Autosegmental theory and Papuan languages

Papuan languages with complex systems of suprasegmental features have been represented within the framework of the autosegmental theory (Foley 1991, James 1994 and Donohue, 1997) offering insights which are now proving fruitful in the phonological analysis of Mbaham, a language spoken by 1100 people in the Bomberai peninsula, West Papua (Trans-New Guinea phylum, West Papua subgroup, ISO Code: BDW). Initial analysis of data from ongoing fieldwork confirms that suprasegmental features of palatalisation, roundness and tone cannot convincingly be assigned to single syllabic constituents and should rather be assigned syntagmatically to positions (or ‘anchor points’ - Goldsmith 1990) that are internally specified in the phonological system, in interaction with the morphosyntax. Such a solution is not simply an appeal to economy but also to predictability.