Published Article

Abstract Kohomono language is a member of the Upper Cross family, classified under the Benue Congo phyla. Secondary articulation is an important phonological phenomenon in the Kohomono phonology that has been under described. The main objective of this paper therefore, is to examine and analyze the phonetic and phonological environments that trigger the secondary articulation of labialization which involves a superimposition of lip rounding in the primary place of articulation in the language. Phonetically, the symbol used to denote labialization is the raised [w] on the labialized sound. Primary data for this work was made up of selected items from the SIL comparative wordlist. These items were translated by the native speakers of the language. From the analysis of data, labialization in Kohomono can be automatic and nonautomatic affecting only the velar plosives /É¡/ and /k/ and the glottal fricative /h/. The triggers of labialization in the language are basically the close back rounded vowel /u/ and in nonconditioned phonetic environments of close-mid and open front vowels. Keywords: phonology, secondary articulation, labialization, phoneme, segments