VOWEL HARMONY IN EWE

Vowel harmony in Ewe applies to certain postclitic vocalic suffixes. The distinctive features of this process are examined. It is suggested that the proposed feature of "tongue root advancing," which plays a role in vowel harmony systems elsewhere in Africa, is involved in Ewe vowel harmony as well, in spite of apparent differences from the more familiar unbounded harmony systems. Ewe vowel harmony is based on the division of its vowels into 3 mutually exclusive sets: +high (i, u), -high,+ATR (e, [reverse epsilon], o), & -high,-ATR ([epsilon], [open o]). This type of system is not unique to Ewe but occurs as well in such Togo-Remnant languages as Likpe & Sele (Santrokofi). The underlying phonological unity of the Western Ewe dialects is clearly demonstrated. AA