Re: Nimrina phonology

On 8/17/06, Patrick Littell <puchitao@...> wrote:
> On 8/17/06, Henrik Theiling <theiling@...> wrote:
>
> > The six vowel system is a very nice extension of the five standard
> > ones.  I wonder whether it is frequent in conlangs (or natlangs), it
> > feels natural at least.
>
> The standard five + /1/ is pretty common in South America, possibly so
> far as to be an areal trait.  I could look it up, but I'm pretty sure
> you'd find/have found it frequently within the Chibcha and Mapuche
> spheres of influence, at least.
It is also the inventory to be found in Western and Central Numic and
Tübatulabal. Southern Numic has preserved the Proto-Uto-Aztecan vowel
system of /i 1 u o a/. It's weird and asymetrical, and I love it.

> -- Pat
Dirk