Phonemes ͻ̃ and ã and their Allophones in the South-East Yoruba (SEY) Dialects: An Optimality Theory Account

The manifestation of ͻ̃~ã is recorded in the Standard Yorùbá (SY) which is contrast to what we know in the South-East Yorùbá. This simply means vowels [ͻ̃ and ã] are known to be allophones of the same phoneme (/ã/) in the Standard Yorùbá (SY). In other words, there is ͻ̃~ã in SY. Can we say the same in the South-East Yorùbá? Are [ͻ̃ and ã] allophones of the same phoneme in the SEY? Does ͻ̃~ã really exist in the South-East Yorùbá?

Hence, this study brings a contrast revelation to what we know in the SY; this work reveals there are more to phonemes / ͻ̃ and ã / and their allophones in the South-East Yorùbá than what we know in the Standard Yorùbá as it will help us to realize that there is no ͻ̃~ã in these Yorùbá dialects, in order words, vowels / ͻ̃ and ã / cannot be treated as allophones of the same phoneme but distinctive phonemes. Three SEY dialects were selected for this study. They include Ẹ̀gbá, Ìjẹ̀bú, and Ìkálẹ̀ dialects, in order to have a good work on phonemes / ͻ̃ and ã / and their allophones in the SEY dialects. Moreover, this study will be accounted for with Optimality Theory (OT).