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This chapter contains a discussion of the phenomenon of vowel harmony (henceforth VH). We start with a few straightforward examples and an introduction to some of the relevant terminology (see. 0.2). Three issues will receive special attention throughout this chapter, viz., the domain of vowel harmony, the nature of the (vowel) features that participate in vowel harmony, and the fact that vowel harmony involves a relation between nonadijacent segments. These issues are introduced in section 1. Section 2 presents an overview of harmony types in general. We do not offer extensive or detailed analyses of particular systems, nor do we attempt to develop a comprehensive theory which accounts for all aspects of vowel harmony. Our goal is both more modest and more appropriate in the context of this volume: we indicate which issues continue to come up in the theoretical analysis of this phenomenon and we discuss some of the prevailing answers to the questions these issues raise. In some cases, however, we do suggest how a particular approach could be further developed. In section 3 we discuss some cases in which consonants interfere with vowel harmony. Finally, section 4 presents some conclusions and suggestions for future research. To set the stage for the discussion in the next section, let us examine briefly one typical example of vowel harmony, the case of Tangale, a Chadic language ... log in or subscribe to read full text