Word Prosody in Lung’Ie: One System or Two?

Abstract Creole languages have generally not figured prominently in cross-linguistic studies of word-prosodic typology. In this paper, we present a phonological analysis the prosodic system Lung’Ie or Principense (ISO 639-3 code: pre), Portuguese-lexifier creole language spoken São Tomé and Príncipe. has produced unique result contact between two different systems common creolization: stress-accent lexifier tone substrates. The restrictive privative H/Ø system, which /H/ is culminative, but non-obligatory. Since rising falling tones are contrastive on long vowels, must be marked underlyingly. While it clear that tonal indications needed, reveals properties more expected an accentual system: (i) there can only one heavy syllable per word; (ii) bear H tone. This raises question whether syllables with culminative also metrical prominence, i.e. stress. However, problem equating stress kinds nouns: those toneless. nouns 87% Portuguese origin, incorporated through stress-to-tone alignment, while toneless ones 92% African origin. Although other been reported split “accented” vs. fully specified lexemes, others mixed stress, differs from these cases treating origin words as toneless, quite surprising result. We consider analyses conclude single unusual stress-like property weight-to-tone.