Funny W

[Alan Knutson]

Currently I am thinking along the lines of a phoneme with the following
distribution (using R as a cover term for these resonants) :
 
                R >    n/ #__ V[-nas]
                            r/  #__ V[+nas]
                            r elsewhere
 
This would be similar in some ways to the Korean distribution (n
initial, r elsewhere) and also to some groups in South and Central
America (if I remember correctly). There also has been an r/n
alternation  reconstructed for some archaic stem forms in I-E. So
perhaps one doesn't have to go to far afield. It also indicates that it
might be useful to look at the exceptions to this type of distribution
to see what information they might give.
 
Alan K

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-siouan at lists.colorado.edu
[mailto:owner-siouan at lists.colorado.edu] On Behalf Of Rory M Larson
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 9:21 AM
To: siouan at lists.colorado.edu
Subject: RE: Funny W



Alan,

> Just a thought here, could it be possible that these two sets, *W and
*R, are the result of the loss of a nasal vowel between two like
resonants with the nasal feature being retained.  For example **waNw...>
*W and **raNr.. > *R 

It sounds like you have some ideas about this.  Would you be willing to
share?

Rory




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