Dhochi: A Dholuo Language Game*

This paper presents a description and an Optimality Theoretic analysis of Dhochi, a language game of Dholuo. To our knowledge this game has escaped the notice of linguists but it has several properties that make it interesting both to those working on Dholuo and to those who work on secret languages in general. The game falls into the general category of ‘reversing games’. We propose that all reversing games are the result of the same process: a phonologically empty morpheme that is concatenated with the word and is then phonetically realized by movement out of linear order of some of the phonological material of the base word into the affix position. The target of movement as well as the landing site for the moved element is determined by different rankings of the game specific faithfulness constraints.