Latɛ Sound Systems and Syllable Structure

Abstract

Leteh is an unwritten dialect of Guan which belongs to the Volta-Comoé (or Western Kwa) unit of the Niger-Congo family of languages. This paper is an aspect of the initial attempt to get the language documented and described. Hence, fundamental issues such as the vowel and consonant sounds are tackled. As a phonological unit, the syllable is the domain of some phonological as well as morphological processes in Leteh; again, it is the tone bearing unit. This paper will therefore, in addition, describe the syllable structure types in Leteh. Finally, conclusions which could serve as motivation for further studies are drawn.