Regressiewe stemassimilasie in Afrikaans en Nederlands

Abstract

The phonological process of assimilation of voice is a distinct feature of both Dutch and Afrikaans. However, there seem to be some prominent differences between these two related languages, especially with regard to the phenomenon of regressive assimilation of voice. Regressive assimilation in Dutch is, according to the literature on this subject, much more restricted than in Afrikaans with regard to the types of segment that are conditioning this sound change. In Afrikaans, assimilation of voice can be triggered by any voiced segment; in Dutch it is stated that only voiced explosives are responsible for such change. In this article it will be demonstrated that this is an unnecessary restriction, and indeed incorrect. This faulty description is due to the fact that the ‘w’ sound in Dutch (as in "water") is typified in a variety of ways in the Dutch literature. It will be shown that ‘w’ is a voiced fricative, and is, together with the voiced explosives, involved in regressive assimilation of voice in much the same way as it is in Afrikaans.