Constraint-Based Analysis of the Syllable Configurations in Kinshasa Lingala

This paper presents an Optimality Theoretic analysis of the syllable configurations that Kinshasa Lingala permits in its inventory and how they are distributed within its words. The data for this study were collected from the lyrics of the songs by the TPOK Jazz Band and verified by two native speakers of Kinshasa Lingala. The findings indicate that this dialect makes use of three-syllable configurations: CV, V and CCV. The syllable template in this dialect is, therefore, represented as (C) (C) V, which means that the nucleus is the only obligatory part, while the consonants in the onset are optional but null in the coda. These syllable configurations are distributed in all word positions except type V, which is restricted to word-initial and final positions. The interaction between markedness and faithfulness constraints in syllable formation in this dialect indicates that the CV configuration is accounted for by the hierarchy NOCODA, ONSET >> *PEAK-C >> MAX-IO, while the CCV pattern is accounted for by the hierarchy NOCODA >> DEP-IO >> MAX-IO >> *COMPLEXONSET. On the other hand, the V configuration is accounted for by the hierarchy NOCODA >> *PEAK-C >> DEP-IO >> MAX-IO >> ONSET. This study contributes to the broader understanding of syllabic patterns in Bantu, underscoring the role of universal constraints espoused in Optimality Theory in shaping the language-specific phonotactics of languages.