Palatalization-split: Difference between revisions
(zzap) |
(subsect.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
A '''palatalization-split''' [[consonant]] [[inventory]] is one where every or almost every non-palatal consonant has a phonemical [[Palatalization|palatalized]] counterpart. This setup occurs mostly in North-Central Asia, including [[Russian]], [[Nenets]] and Khalkha [[Mongolian]]. (More limited palatalization contrasts are common in the area, too.) | A '''palatalization-split''' [[consonant]] [[inventory]] is one where every or almost every non-palatal consonant has a phonemical [[Palatalization|palatalized]] counterpart. This setup occurs mostly in North-Central Asia, including [[Russian]], [[Nenets]] and Khalkha [[Mongolian]]. (More limited palatalization contrasts are common in the area, too.) | ||
More complex variations are found dispersed over the world: | Palatalization splits (and especially the more complex variants - see below), go frequently together with wholly or partly [[vertical vowel system]]s, with vowel frontness filled in from palatality of the preceding consonant, eg. /mʲi/ → [mʲi], but /mi/ → [mɨ]. It is these kind of languages where '''palatalized palatals''' are possible: this will be a segment that is both palatal in its articulation and imparts a palatal coloring: /ja/ → [ja], but /jʲa/ → [jɛ] ''vel. sim.'' Interaction with [[vowel harmony]] offers similar possibilities (perhaps implying a [[suprasegmental]] interpretation of palatality). | ||
==History== | |||
A palatalization split can come about by excessive [[palatalization]] followed by neutralization of vowel contrasts (eg. /mi/ → /mʲi/, but /mɨ/ → /mi/). The neutralization does not need to be immediately phonetical, if apparent front/back vowel contrasts can now be explained in terms of vowel coloring by a consonant's palatalization. | |||
==Variations== | |||
Some corresponding pairs of consonants may differ in more than palatalization. For example, alveolars will commonly become postalveolar, or wholly palatal: /sʲ/ → [ʃ], /tʲ/ → [c]. (Irish has an example with velarity: /vˠ/ → [w].) Also near the apex of the palatal [[POA]], some series may merge, leading to eg. non-palatal three-way distinction /p t k/ vs. palatal two-way distinction /pʲ c/. | |||
More complex variations featuring other modes of [[secondary articulation]]s are found dispersed over the world: | |||
* [[Irish]] has no plain consonants, only palatalized and [[Velarization|velarized]] variants. | * [[Irish]] has no plain consonants, only palatalized and [[Velarization|velarized]] variants. | ||
* [[Marshallese]] takes this one step further with a palatalized/velarized/[[Labialization|labialized]] tripartite division. | * [[Marshallese]] takes this one step further with a palatalized/velarized/[[Labialization|labialized]] tripartite division. | ||
* Many Caucasian, especially [[Northwest Caucasian]] languages have idiosyncratic variations where certain but not all series can occur palatalized or labialized. | * Many Caucasian, especially [[Northwest Caucasian]] languages have idiosyncratic variations where certain but not all series can occur palatalized or labialized. | ||
Curiously, purely labialization-split | Curiously, purely labialization or velarization-split systems do not seem to exist. Languages with many [[emphatic]] consonants can be essentially [[pharyngealization]]-split however. | ||
[[Category: Phonology]] | [[Category: Phonology]] | ||
Revision as of 04:18, 31 March 2010
A palatalization-split consonant inventory is one where every or almost every non-palatal consonant has a phonemical palatalized counterpart. This setup occurs mostly in North-Central Asia, including Russian, Nenets and Khalkha Mongolian. (More limited palatalization contrasts are common in the area, too.)
Palatalization splits (and especially the more complex variants - see below), go frequently together with wholly or partly vertical vowel systems, with vowel frontness filled in from palatality of the preceding consonant, eg. /mʲi/ → [mʲi], but /mi/ → [mɨ]. It is these kind of languages where palatalized palatals are possible: this will be a segment that is both palatal in its articulation and imparts a palatal coloring: /ja/ → [ja], but /jʲa/ → [jɛ] vel. sim. Interaction with vowel harmony offers similar possibilities (perhaps implying a suprasegmental interpretation of palatality).
History
A palatalization split can come about by excessive palatalization followed by neutralization of vowel contrasts (eg. /mi/ → /mʲi/, but /mɨ/ → /mi/). The neutralization does not need to be immediately phonetical, if apparent front/back vowel contrasts can now be explained in terms of vowel coloring by a consonant's palatalization.
Variations
Some corresponding pairs of consonants may differ in more than palatalization. For example, alveolars will commonly become postalveolar, or wholly palatal: /sʲ/ → [ʃ], /tʲ/ → [c]. (Irish has an example with velarity: /vˠ/ → [w].) Also near the apex of the palatal POA, some series may merge, leading to eg. non-palatal three-way distinction /p t k/ vs. palatal two-way distinction /pʲ c/.
More complex variations featuring other modes of secondary articulations are found dispersed over the world:
- Irish has no plain consonants, only palatalized and velarized variants.
- Marshallese takes this one step further with a palatalized/velarized/labialized tripartite division.
- Many Caucasian, especially Northwest Caucasian languages have idiosyncratic variations where certain but not all series can occur palatalized or labialized.
Curiously, purely labialization or velarization-split systems do not seem to exist. Languages with many emphatic consonants can be essentially pharyngealization-split however.
