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Phonotactics and the prestopped velar lateral of Hiw: resolving the ambiguity of a complex segment*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2010

Alexandre François
Alexandre François
Affiliation:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Australian National University
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Abstract

Complex segments consisting of two phases are potentially ambivalent as to which phase determines their phonemic status – e.g. whether // is a stop or a nasal. This theoretical problem is addressed here with respect to a typologically unusual phoneme in Hiw, an endangered Oceanic language of Vanuatu. This complex segment, //, combines a velar voiced stop and a velar lateral approximant. Similar phonemes, in the few languages which have them, have been variously described as (laterally released) stops, affricates or (prestopped) laterals. The nature of Hiw // can be established from its patterning in tautosyllabic consonant clusters. The licensing of word-initial CC clusters in Hiw complies with the Sonority Sequencing Principle, albeit with some adjustments. Consequently, the well-formedness of words like /mejiŋə/ ‘berserk’ relies on // being analysed as a prestopped velar lateral approximant – the only liquid in the system.

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Articles
Information
Phonology , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , December 2010 , pp. 393 - 434
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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