Chapter 5. Re-examining initial geminates
-
Francesco Burroni
Abstract
We present a typology of the diachronic pathways leading to the emergence of Initial Geminates (IGs). We show that synchronic phonological properties of IGs, especially their moraic status, may be tied to the diachronic trajectory that leads to their emergence. This is expected if we follow an evolutionary approach to phonology, Evolutionary Phonology (EP). We further discuss potential alternatives and limitations to this scenario and introduce a series of testable predictions for future instrumental work on the topic. We complete our discussion with two cases studies of Pattani Malay and Salentino, the latter based on an original acoustic pilot study. We argue that these two languages show that lexical competition alone is not enough to predict the IGs’ resistance to merger contra previous accounts proposed in the framework of EP. We suggest that lexical competition needs to be better quantified and that other factors need to be taken into account if we are to understand the multifaceted synchronic realisation and evolution of IGs.
Abstract
We present a typology of the diachronic pathways leading to the emergence of Initial Geminates (IGs). We show that synchronic phonological properties of IGs, especially their moraic status, may be tied to the diachronic trajectory that leads to their emergence. This is expected if we follow an evolutionary approach to phonology, Evolutionary Phonology (EP). We further discuss potential alternatives and limitations to this scenario and introduce a series of testable predictions for future instrumental work on the topic. We complete our discussion with two cases studies of Pattani Malay and Salentino, the latter based on an original acoustic pilot study. We argue that these two languages show that lexical competition alone is not enough to predict the IGs’ resistance to merger contra previous accounts proposed in the framework of EP. We suggest that lexical competition needs to be better quantified and that other factors need to be taken into account if we are to understand the multifaceted synchronic realisation and evolution of IGs.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Signs of prehistoric language shifts involving Unangam Tunuu (Aleut) 8
- Chapter 2. Early compound accent in Japanese Tōkyō -type dialects 36
- Chapter 3. Phylogenetic signal in the lexicon 59
- Chapter 4. Solving Galton’s problem 74
- Chapter 5. Re-examining initial geminates 109
- Chapter 6. Recurrent change in pronouns 146
- Chapter 7. The role of geography and migration in the branching and spread of the Japonic language family 172
- Chapter 8. Iconicity principles from an evolutionary perspective 194
- Chapter 9. Modality across semantic spaces 216
- Chapter 10. Something out of nothing 240
- Chapter 11. The diachronic development of postverbal dé 得 in Chinese 260
- Chapter 12. Food, contact phenomena and reconstruction in Oriental Berber 283
- Chapter 13. A cognitive-typological perspective on the origins of causative‑applicative polysemy 330
- Index 367
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Signs of prehistoric language shifts involving Unangam Tunuu (Aleut) 8
- Chapter 2. Early compound accent in Japanese Tōkyō -type dialects 36
- Chapter 3. Phylogenetic signal in the lexicon 59
- Chapter 4. Solving Galton’s problem 74
- Chapter 5. Re-examining initial geminates 109
- Chapter 6. Recurrent change in pronouns 146
- Chapter 7. The role of geography and migration in the branching and spread of the Japonic language family 172
- Chapter 8. Iconicity principles from an evolutionary perspective 194
- Chapter 9. Modality across semantic spaces 216
- Chapter 10. Something out of nothing 240
- Chapter 11. The diachronic development of postverbal dé 得 in Chinese 260
- Chapter 12. Food, contact phenomena and reconstruction in Oriental Berber 283
- Chapter 13. A cognitive-typological perspective on the origins of causative‑applicative polysemy 330
- Index 367
