Status of "u" in Omaha-Ponca

[Ogalala2 at aol.com]

I need the Dheghan scholars to clarify the status  of "u" in Omaha-Ponca.  I 
was surprised to hear that Om-Po "u" was lost  leaving only four oral vowels 
in this language. This loss occurred  when u>ue>i.  The oral "u" (not fronted) 
occurs in the works of  Fletcher & 
La Flesche, Dorsey, Boaz, and all others that I am familiar  with. How is 
this to be explained?  Is the loss of "u" a recent  occurrence?  Is there another 
explanation?  Please clarify this issue  for me.
 
Thanks, Ted Grimm
 
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