Tone in Akpes
Ben Elugbe
Akpes is one of the small
languages of the Akoko area of the Ondo State of Nigeria. It is part of the
linguistically complex Southwest Niger-Benue Confluence area of Nigeria. Its
classification remains fairly in doubt although its close affinity to Edoid has
recently been noted (Agoyi 1997) and defended (Elugbe 2000).
Akpes has a ‘two tones plus
downstep’ system. It is at the moment not clear if it has downdrift (automatic
downstep) in addition to the obvious (non-automatic) downstep. Some utterances
suggest that it does have downdrift while others suggest it might not. Examples
of each will be provided.
It will be demonstrated that
that there is synchronic evidence for downstep traceable to a lost or latent L.
This is therefore generalised to postulate a floating L for all cases of downstep.
In the attributive
construction, involving the demonstrative pronouns, the final syllable sounds higher
and more prominent than preceding tones, whether L or H. Although this might
tempt one to consider the system as a three-tone one, the restriction of this
phenomenon to the final position in particular tone patterns means that it is
predictable and may in fact be a deictic strategy.