intervocalic devoicing in Welsh (?)

[Alan R. King]

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
In response to Benji Wald in response to me on a possible example of
intervocalic devoicing in certain varieties of Welsh, I unfortunately
cannot add very much as that is about the limit of my knowledge on the
particular subject (and I do hope the information I gave is largely
accurate).  From here on one would need the help of a Welsh *specialist* (I
just happen to know some Welsh and have an inquisitive mind, but have not
studied the subject in detail).
 
So regarding Benji's PS at the end:
 
>PS.  I forgot whether Alan mentioned this, but if a form like "chair" had a
>long vowel before the stop originally, as in the standard, and shortened it
>before gemination in the north, then the shortening in the south may also
>suggest prior gemination.  Obviously we need to know a whole lot more about
>the history of the relevant Welsh dialects before we can draw secure
>conclusions.
 
I can only agree with the second sentence, and point out with regard to the
first that I don't know, off-hand, what length the vowel has in the first
syllable of the word for "chair" (standard CADAIR) in varieties with the
devoicing phenomenon; if the transcription I gave implied that it is short,
that was a slip-up.  Since southern dialects in general maintain vowel
quantity distinctions, my initial assumption must be that it is probably long.
 
Furthermore, when a Welsh specialist is found, she or he should be
questioned on the exact dialectal distribution of the devoicing phenomenon.
 I know it does occur in the southeast, but can't remember whether or not
it is also found further north, in which case there might be a dialect with
both devoicing and vowel shortening.
 
Bearing in mind my disclaimers, I'll be glad to give any related
information about Welsh if needed and I feel competent to do so.
 
Hwyl,
Alan