Tone in Akpes

 

Ben Elugbe

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology/ University of Ibadan, Nigeria

 

 

Abstract

 

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.