Abstract

MATEUS, Maria Helena Mira. VOWELS BEHAVIOUR IN PORTUGUESE VARIETIES. Lingüística [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.2, pp.19-43. ISSN 2079-312X.

The goal of this paper is the analysis of Portuguese vowels in European (EP) and Brazilian (BP) varieties, both in stressed and unstressed syllable, making a distinction between vowels resulting from categorical rules that occur in all Portuguese varieties (as vowel harmony that applies on root verbal vowels) from vowel alternations and variation, namely in unstressed syllable, that cause a clear distinction between EP and BP. The theoretical framework that sustains this analysis is the generative phonology that considers the existence of separate tiers: the phonological tier where processes that have as a result the phonetic surface forms apply. The explanations we present may reinforce the Portuguese language teaching as a second or a foreign language in clarifying certain linguistics questions related to the pronunciation of Portuguese and the elucidation of the students. The pedagogical dimension can issue from an adequate reflexion about the proposals presented here

Keywords : Vowel; Vowel Harmony; Theme Vowel; Unstressed Syllable.

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