Umlaut in the Bantu B80 Languages of the Kwilu (DRC)

What is it about?

Umlaut is a rather uncommon sound change in Bantu. However, it is prolific in a number of closely related Bantu languages spoken in the Kwilu District of DR Congo, also known as the ‘Bantu B80’ languages. This shared phonological innovation is not only diagnostic of the genealogical unity of this language cluster, but variation in the way it is realized is also significant for their internal classification. In some languages, umlaut leads to an increase in phonemes through the creation of a new set of rounded front vowels. In others, umlaut triggers vowel change without impact on the number of vowel qualities. This paper presents a detailed descriptive and comparative study of this specific kind of vowel harmony and the phonological contexts in which it is triggered.

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