Deictic tone in Nuer

A Preliminary Report

Abstract

This report presents new evidence for a three-way tonal contrast in Nuer (Western Nilotic), distinguishing proximal, distal, and proper nouns. Many common nouns display two tonal forms: one used when the referent is proximal to the speaker and another when it is distal. The tonal pattern of the distal form suggests the presence of a floating H tone at its right edge. In addition, oblique forms of proper nouns derived from common nouns exhibit a distinct tonal pattern. It is proposed here that the tonal differences arise from a morpheme consisting of a floating mora preceding proper names in the oblique form.