Adaptation of Vowel and Consonant Sequences in Bawean Language: An Optimality Theory Analysis

Abstract

Using Optimality Theory, this study investigates the phonological adaptation of consonant and vowel sequences in the Baweanese language. Baweanese, spoken on Bawean Island, contains lexical items of Malay, English, and Javanese origin and exhibits distinct phonological characteristics shaped by language contact. The primary aim of this study is to document Malay loanwords in Baweanese, examine the phonological processes involved in their adaptation, and analyse these processes within an Optimality Theory framework. The study adopts a qualitative approach based on fieldwork and interviews with native Baweanese speakers from Kampung Telok Sengat, Johor. The findings reveal systematic phonological processes, including changes in vowel quality and the substitution of the voiced affricate /d3/ with the voiceless affricate /tf/. These adaptations reflect the influence of phonotactic constraints such as MAX-IO, CODA, and IDENT-IO, which are shown to interact in a specific hierarchical ranking. A total of 38 loanword samples provided by native speakers formed the empirical basis of the analysis. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of phonological adaptation in Baweanese and demonstrates the applicability of Optimality Theory in the analysis of loanword phonology.