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Re: Ejectives (was: Is this a realistic phonology?)

From:John Cowan <cowan@...>
Date:Wednesday, March 17, 1999, 15:24
I wrote:

> > Sahla Autumn Yasmin Ajinqwai wrote: > > > > > What is an ejective? > > > > Essentially a reverse click. Both ejective and click involve > > using a velar closure to block off the airway, but in an ejective, > > the air in the mouth is compressed and forced out, whereas in a > > click, the air in the mouth is rarefied and new air forced in.
A private correspondent notes that in ejectives, the point of closure is the glottis, not the velum, so ejectives are not quite reverse clicks for this reason. -- John Cowan http://www.ccil.org/~cowan cowan@ccil.org You tollerday donsk? N. You tolkatiff scowegian? Nn. You spigotty anglease? Nnn. You phonio saxo? Nnnn. Clear all so! 'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)