TY - JOUR
T1 - Phonotactics and the prestopped velar lateral of Hiw: resolving the ambiguity of a complex segment
AU - Francois, Alex
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Complex segments consisting of two phases are potentially ambivalent as to which phase determines their phonemic status - e.g. whether /tn/ is a stop or a nasal. This theoretical problem is addressed here with respect to a typologically unusual phoneme in Hiw, an endangered Oceanic language of Vanuatu. This complex segment, /gL/, combines a velar voiced stop and a velar lateral approximant. Similar phonemes, in the few languages which have them, have been variously described as (laterally released) stops, affricates or (prestopped) laterals. The nature of Hiw /gL/ can be established from its patterning in tautosyllabic consonant clusters. The licensing of word-initial CC clusters in Hiw complies with the Sonority Sequencing Principle, albeit with some adjustments. Consequently, the well-formedness of words like /megLejininverted e/ 'berserk' relies on /gL/ being analysed as a prestopped velar lateral approximant - the only liquid in the system.
AB - Complex segments consisting of two phases are potentially ambivalent as to which phase determines their phonemic status - e.g. whether /tn/ is a stop or a nasal. This theoretical problem is addressed here with respect to a typologically unusual phoneme in Hiw, an endangered Oceanic language of Vanuatu. This complex segment, /gL/, combines a velar voiced stop and a velar lateral approximant. Similar phonemes, in the few languages which have them, have been variously described as (laterally released) stops, affricates or (prestopped) laterals. The nature of Hiw /gL/ can be established from its patterning in tautosyllabic consonant clusters. The licensing of word-initial CC clusters in Hiw complies with the Sonority Sequencing Principle, albeit with some adjustments. Consequently, the well-formedness of words like /megLejininverted e/ 'berserk' relies on /gL/ being analysed as a prestopped velar lateral approximant - the only liquid in the system.
U2 - 10.1017/S0952675710000205
DO - 10.1017/S0952675710000205
M3 - Article
SN - 0952-6757
VL - 27
SP - 393
EP - 434
JO - Phonology
JF - Phonology
IS - 3
ER -