Re: Kontaxta

>From: Damian Yerrick <tepples@...>
>
>"Ivan Baines" <kinetic_wab@...> wrote:
>
> > That may because the syllable structure is inspired by Japanese.
> > A syllable may be CV, V or C (but while in Japanese the only
> > C syllable is 'n', here pretty much any consonant can stand
> > as a syllable on its own).
>
>No, 'n' is not the only C mora in Japanese.  A high vowel (/i/, /u/)
>between two voiceless consonants will often become silent, and
>a final high vowel after a voiceless consonant drops out in men's
>speech as well.  For instance, kana spelling "kontashita" would
>be pronounced "ko-n-ta-sh-ta".
Not technically true.  The high vowel in these cases (at least in standard
Japanese) is voiceless, but still pronounced, as is apparent from some
non-homophonous words which would otherwise be so.  However, as is mentioned
elsewhere, geminates count as an extra mora, so the first consonant of such
a sequence may well be considered a C mora, although this does funky things
to the pitch accent, if I recall.

Athey

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