The Sentani variation

Abstract This article examines the default stress pattern of Sentani (Papuan), situates it within the typology of iambic stress patterns, and provides an analysis within the Weak Bracketing framework for metrical stress theory. Sentani is unique in sometimes employing clash (adjacent stressed syllables) and other times employing lapse (adjacent stressless syllables) in an effort to avoid final stress in even-parity forms. Clash is employed in four-syllable forms, but lapse is employed in longer even-parity forms. Key to the analysis are constraints insisting that both the initial foot and the final foot carry a stress. When the initial and final foot are adjacent (i.e., in four-syllable forms), insisting that both be stressed results in a clash. When the initial and final foot are not adjacent (i.e., in longer even-parity forms), a medial foot emerges without stress in order to avoid clash.