Morphophonological reduction in Swahili: the pressure of frequency and lexical diffusion

The article discusses a number of morphophonological alternations in Swahili which vary as to their scope and degree of regularity. It is argued that the allomorphy between syllabic and non-syllabic variants of some morphemes is due to phonological reduction which affects high frequency lexical items first and gradually extends on others by way of lexical diffusion. The analysis is supported by comparing the data of Standard Swahili to less conservative colloquial varieties and non-standardized local dialects, in which reductions are more advanced. The analysis contributes to a better comprehension of synchronic allomorphy and it also sheds light on the mechanism of diachronic change.