In a comparative approach, this article reports on the status of vowel length
in Kasim, Samoma and Birifor. The purpose of this study is to highlight the
similarities and differences that exist between these three languages regarding vowel
quantity. Using a qualitative approach, the analysis was based on a corpus drawn
largely from data from Bonvini (1974), Kedrebeogo (1989) and Tirogo (2018).
Following the theory developed by Prieto (1954), the study reveals that vowel length
in these three languages has no phonemic status. It receives a biphonematic
interpretation. The vowel quantity is a combinatorial fact. It is a relevant contrastive
and not oppositional trait. Based on observed facts, the CVV sequence in all three
languages has two syllables. Each of the vowels in this sequence constitutes the
nucleus of a syllable, the second having an empty attack.

vowel length relevant feature Kasim Samoma