SIL Global Publishing Services

Discontinuous nasal spread in Yaminahua

Relation Text: 
SIL Electronic Working Papers 2006-001
Statement of Responsibility: 
Loos, Eugene E
Authors: 
Issue Date: 
2006
Abstract: 

Rachel Walker's (1998) analysis of the universal characteristics of nasal spread provided a unified account of nasal spread that enabled the formulation of predictable spread patterns. The present analysis presents a new type of data not included in Walker's account: Yaminahua (Panoan) diverges significantly from hitherto identified patterns of nasal spread by allowing nasalization to skip over intervening nasalizable segments. By positing nasal autosegments this paper provides a rationale for the Yaminahua exceptions to Walker's universal pattern.

Extent: 
20 pages
Subject: 
Phonological Change
Nasalization
Panoan Language Group
Nasal Spread
Country: 
Peru
Field: 
Subject Languages: 
Content Language: 
Nature of Work: