Metathesis

[Christopher Cox]

Axelrod (1993) briefly mentions an instance of metathesis in Koyukon
stem formation:

"A phonotactic constraint on final clusters in Koyukon requires that
lateral consonants come last.  The suffixes -k and -yh therefore
appear preceding a root-final lateral affricate.  The root -daatl, for
example, becomes -deyhtl in the repetitive aspect by means of
metathesis: -daatl + k -> -deł + k (base form) > dekł (via metathesis)
> deyhł (via spirantization) > deyhtl (via affrication)." (ibid.: 13)


-- 
Chris Cox
cdcox at ualberta.ca