Abstract:
This study is a descriptive analysis of the segments and syllabification system of Hindko
spoken in Tanawal region of Hazara Division, Pakistan. The dialect of Tanawal, in
particular, has not attracted the attention of previous researchers and not become a topic of
rigorous research. This study is limited to the inventory of phonemes by examining the data
collected from native speakers and by analyzing it qualitatively and quantitatively through
machine analysis. The segments were established by making minimal pairs. It was found that
Hindko has three ways of voicing: voiced, unaspirated and aspirated sounds. In addition to
consonants and oral vowels, Hindko also allows nasal vowels. The recorded data was
analyzed with the help of Praat software and the results were presented through
spectrographic and statistical analyses. The study also describes the syllabification systems
of Hindko in light of Onset Rhyme Theory, Maximal Onset Principle (MOP) and Sonority
Sequencing Principle (SSP). The findings show that Hindko allows three syllabic
consonants, 13 templates for syllables and two consonant clusters. Hindko generally follows
the principles of maximal onset and sonority sequencing. Tanawal dialect of Hindko also
allows gemination word medially and finally. It is suggested that remaining suprasegmental
features of Hindko such as stress and tones should be investigated on the same pattern so that
the complete picture of the dialect may be formed.
