OT: Consonant Harmony and Sound changes (was: Semi-OT: Several

From:    Roger Mills <rfmilly@...>
> > Anyone already has got this PDF file
> > and can tell us more about consonant harmony? It seems to be quite an
> > interesting feature. Maybe I shouldn't have written Mr Hansson that I'm no
> > linguist but "only" a conlanger, I don't know.
>
> Some real-life certified "linguists" view us conlangers with benign
> contempt; I would just have said "amateur linguist" or nothing....
Gunnar's not that type of guy;  he's the kind who'd raise an
eyebrow, or grin, but say nothing, and not treat that person
any differently.

> But it's
> quite likely Mr. Hansson may no longer be at Chicago; vacation? maybe he's
> back in Sweden? maybe-- praise be!!-- he found a job? It shouldn't be a
> time-consuming problem to zip the file and email it to you.
He's actually an Icelander, although he has more or less native
fluency in Swedish as well because he spent the second seven years
or so of his life in Sweden.

> Question for Tom Wier:  do you know Gunnar Hansson?
I know him quite well.  Took a seminar on phonological opacity
from him, and helped him move out.

 =========================================================================
Thomas Wier	       "I find it useful to meet my subjects personally,
Dept. of Linguistics    because our secret police don't get it right
University of Chicago   half the time." -- octogenarian Sheikh Zayed of
1010 E. 59th Street     Abu Dhabi, to a French reporter.
Chicago, IL 60637