Re: Phonation or Register Tones (was: Trial of the century?)

On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Kristian Jensen wrote:

> Kenji Schwarz wrote:
>
> >I _think_ I can pronounce it right. At least for single words.  In
> >connected speech at something approaching a "normal" speed, I get
> >tangled up and miss it.
>
> I'm trying them right now. I _think_ I have them as well - but
> perhaps I'm trying too hard that it seems impossible. If I relax...
> NOPE! Can't do it! How can one relax when one pharyngealizes.
I don't think you can, technically -- the idea is that pharyngialization
is a sort of "tenseness" itself.  IIRC, some of the Russian investigators
of Even called it that, originally (?? -- might well be wrong here).

> extreme (hence pharyngealization). If anything, linguists should try
> to relate the Tungusic languages with those of Western Africa and
> not Turkish.....
Well, obviously!  In fact, they're both descendants of Etruscan, as can
easily be proved...

> I'm KIDDING of course. 8-)
Oh.  Right.  Never mind.

> Sorry. Perhaps next year. Time constraints you see. For now, I'm
> trying to get a grammar done on hard copy - but I guess that won't
> help you much. First thing's first. Suffice to say, the
> transcription of Boreanesian in the grammar will be done entirely in
> IPA. With so many unique phonological features, the Roman alphabet
> is simply not sufficient to transcribe Boreanesian. When I'm done
> with the grammar, I'm sure I'll begin making audio files. You'll be
> the first to know.
Looking forward to it --

Kenji Schwarz