“Excorporation” in a Dene (Athabaskan) language
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Keren Rice
Abstract
In the Fort Good Hope variety of the Dene (North Slavey) language, Proto-Athabaskan *n generally is realized as [r] in an oral environment and as [n] in a nasal environment. However, in some cases where alternations between [n] and [r] are expected based on closely related varieties, only the [r] variety is found. One consequence of this restructuring is that derivational affixes that were historically closely integrated into the verb word from a phonological perspective are now less fully integrated. This type of language change is typologically unusual. I suggest that it was motivated by the pressure to retain consistency of morpheme shape, perhaps to aid communication with speakers of a related but quite different language, representing a type of contact effect.
Abstract
In the Fort Good Hope variety of the Dene (North Slavey) language, Proto-Athabaskan *n generally is realized as [r] in an oral environment and as [n] in a nasal environment. However, in some cases where alternations between [n] and [r] are expected based on closely related varieties, only the [r] variety is found. One consequence of this restructuring is that derivational affixes that were historically closely integrated into the verb word from a phonological perspective are now less fully integrated. This type of language change is typologically unusual. I suggest that it was motivated by the pressure to retain consistency of morpheme shape, perhaps to aid communication with speakers of a related but quite different language, representing a type of contact effect.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Language contact and change in the Americas 1
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Part I North America: California
- Yuki, Pomoan, Wintun, and Athabaskan 17
- The role of passives in the formation of hierarchical systems in Northern California 33
- Assessing the effects of language contact on Northeastern Pomo 67
- Synchronic and diachronic accounts of phonological features in Central Chumash languages 91
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Part II North America: Athabaskan, Iroquoian, and Uto-Aztecan
- Contact and semantic shift in extreme language endangerment 107
- “Excorporation” in a Dene (Athabaskan) language 139
- Contact and change in Oneida 167
- Huron/Wendat interactions with the Seneca language 189
- The usual suspects 219
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Part III Northern Mexico, Mesoamerica, and South America
- Language documentation and historical linguistics 249
- The Jakaltek Popti’ noun classifier system 273
- Language contact and word structure 297
- Auxiliation and typological shift 315
- Discourse pattern replication in South Conchucos Quechua and Andean Spanish 339
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Part IV The Americas and beyond
- Measuring language typicality, with special reference to the Americas 365
- Words for ‘dog’ as a diagnostic of language contact in the Americas 385
- Index 411
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Language contact and change in the Americas 1
-
Part I North America: California
- Yuki, Pomoan, Wintun, and Athabaskan 17
- The role of passives in the formation of hierarchical systems in Northern California 33
- Assessing the effects of language contact on Northeastern Pomo 67
- Synchronic and diachronic accounts of phonological features in Central Chumash languages 91
-
Part II North America: Athabaskan, Iroquoian, and Uto-Aztecan
- Contact and semantic shift in extreme language endangerment 107
- “Excorporation” in a Dene (Athabaskan) language 139
- Contact and change in Oneida 167
- Huron/Wendat interactions with the Seneca language 189
- The usual suspects 219
-
Part III Northern Mexico, Mesoamerica, and South America
- Language documentation and historical linguistics 249
- The Jakaltek Popti’ noun classifier system 273
- Language contact and word structure 297
- Auxiliation and typological shift 315
- Discourse pattern replication in South Conchucos Quechua and Andean Spanish 339
-
Part IV The Americas and beyond
- Measuring language typicality, with special reference to the Americas 365
- Words for ‘dog’ as a diagnostic of language contact in the Americas 385
- Index 411
