The dinguist’s dilemma
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James A. Matisoff
Abstract
This paper explores interactions between the lateral liquid l and the voiced stop d (with parenthetical remarks about n and t as well) in a variety of language families, especially Sino-Tibetan/Tibeto-Burman. These apical sounds participate both in synchronic patterns of variation and in diachronic patterns of sound change. Sometimes changes of *l > d or *d > l seem quite regular, as e.g. in the passage from Old to Middle Chinese. More often perhaps, these changes appear sporadic. Recognition of l >< d alternations in ST/TB permits the refinement of several etymologies. The phonetic similarity between these sounds accounts for the fact that they interact with such frequency in languages all over the world. Di gantse velt shteyt oyf der shpits tsung. (Yiddish proverb)
Abstract
This paper explores interactions between the lateral liquid l and the voiced stop d (with parenthetical remarks about n and t as well) in a variety of language families, especially Sino-Tibetan/Tibeto-Burman. These apical sounds participate both in synchronic patterns of variation and in diachronic patterns of sound change. Sometimes changes of *l > d or *d > l seem quite regular, as e.g. in the passage from Old to Middle Chinese. More often perhaps, these changes appear sporadic. Recognition of l >< d alternations in ST/TB permits the refinement of several etymologies. The phonetic similarity between these sounds accounts for the fact that they interact with such frequency in languages all over the world. Di gantse velt shteyt oyf der shpits tsung. (Yiddish proverb)
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction ix
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Part I. Typological studies
- Non-aprioristic typology as a discovery tool 3
- Chorophorics, or the difference between place as an entity and place as a position in space 27
- On the diachrony of the ‘Ethical Dative’ 43
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Part II. Contributions to historical linguistics
- Biactantial agreement in the Gongduk transitive verb in the broader Tibeto-Burman context 69
- The dinguist’s dilemma 83
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Part III. TAME and case alignment
- Person-sensitive TAME marking in Galo 107
- Agent case marking in Sahaptian 131
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Part IV. Multi-clause constructions
- The Kurtöp - si construction 155
- Verb serialization in Ede from a diachronic perspective 179
- Tense-aspect morphology from nominalizers in Newar 195
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Part V. Functional motivation and extension
- Predicting reference form 223
- Causation as “functional sink” in Northern Paiute 237
- The challenge of Maa ‘Away’ 259
- Name index 283
- Language index 287
- Subject index 291
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction ix
-
Part I. Typological studies
- Non-aprioristic typology as a discovery tool 3
- Chorophorics, or the difference between place as an entity and place as a position in space 27
- On the diachrony of the ‘Ethical Dative’ 43
-
Part II. Contributions to historical linguistics
- Biactantial agreement in the Gongduk transitive verb in the broader Tibeto-Burman context 69
- The dinguist’s dilemma 83
-
Part III. TAME and case alignment
- Person-sensitive TAME marking in Galo 107
- Agent case marking in Sahaptian 131
-
Part IV. Multi-clause constructions
- The Kurtöp - si construction 155
- Verb serialization in Ede from a diachronic perspective 179
- Tense-aspect morphology from nominalizers in Newar 195
-
Part V. Functional motivation and extension
- Predicting reference form 223
- Causation as “functional sink” in Northern Paiute 237
- The challenge of Maa ‘Away’ 259
- Name index 283
- Language index 287
- Subject index 291
