Re: /nj/ vs. /J/ [was Re: sounds I can't find!!!]

Trebor asked:



> Garth wrote: "AIUI, the former is an alveolar nasal with a palatal release
> (the tongue sort of rolls back from alveolar to palatal position) while
> the
> latter is simply a palatal nasal."
>
> Is this contrast phonemic anywhere?
>
_Possibly_ in French, Spanish, Italian (at least according to the written
forms):

[n_j] vs. [J]
Spanish unión vs. uña '(finger)nail'
French union vs. oignon
Italian unione vs. ogni

But I'd be willing to bet that in practice nobody observes it.

(Retiring to a corner, having filled my quota.)

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