A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF SEGMENTAL AND SELECTED SUPRASEGMENTAL FEATURES OF HINDKO DIALECT SPOKEN IN TANAWAL, HAZARA

Abstract

This study is a descriptive analysis of the segments and syllabification system of Hindko spoken in Tanawal region of Hazara Division, Pakistan. The dialect of Tanawal, in particular, has not attracted the attention of previous researchers and not become a topic of rigorous research. This study is limited to the inventory of phonemes by examining the data collected from native speakers and by analyzing it qualitatively and quantitatively through machine analysis. The segments were established by making minimal pairs. It was found that Hindko has three ways of voicing: voiced, unaspirated and aspirated sounds. In addition to consonants and oral vowels, Hindko also allows nasal vowels. The recorded data was analyzed with the help of Praat software and the results were presented through spectrographic and statistical analyses. The study also describes the syllabification systems of Hindko in light of Onset Rhyme Theory, Maximal Onset Principle (MOP) and Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP). The findings show that Hindko allows three syllabic consonants, 13 templates for syllables and two consonant clusters. Hindko generally follows the principles of maximal onset and sonority sequencing. Tanawal dialect of Hindko also allows gemination word medially and finally. It is suggested that remaining suprasegmental features of Hindko such as stress and tones should be investigated on the same pattern so that the complete picture of the dialect may be formed.