Re: Proto-Tirelat and sound changes

> After a few attempts to convert Czirehlat to Shirahlat directly, I
thought
> it might be better to do a Proto-Tirelat phonology and have rules to go
> from PT to both languages. Generally speaking, Tirelat/Shirahlat /ü/
> corresponds to /ui/ or /iu/ in Czirehlat, and /ö/ corresponds to /ue/
or
> /io/. So there could be a number of ways this situation could be
derived
> from Proto-Tirelat:
>
> 1. Original /wi/, /yu/ > /ü/; /we/, /yo/ > /ö/ in Shirahlat
> 2. Original /ü/, /ö/ diverged in Czirehlat, depending on surrounding
sounds
> 3. Some combination of these.
Option (3) seems the most difficult to me, though it could be the most
interesting.  You might have some trouble finding an environment in which
you can explain the reasons for the various reflexes.  The same with
(2)--since Czirehlat already exists, you might not be able to justify why
you have /ui/ in some cases and /iu/ in others.  However, if you can pull
that off, perhaps by positing other sounds that don't exist in any
daughter language (as with the PIE laryngeals), then I think (2) is the
best choice.

> The origin of /T/ and /D/ could either have come from English influence
> (replacing some older Tirelat sound) or it could have been an original
> Tirelat sound that was lost in Czirehlat. I'm leaning towards /T/ and
/D/
> being original Tirelat sounds, which largely merged with /f/ and /v/ in
> most contexts in Czirehlat. Perhaps Czirehlat "hl" is from an original
> /Tl/, and "l" from /Dl/. In this case, Shirahlat might turn into
> "Shirathlat".
Good.  I once again prefer initial /T/ and /D/, but diverging them from
different original sounds might prove a challenge.


Jesse S. Bangs     Pelíran
jaspax @juno.com
"There is enough light for those that desire only to see, and enough
darkness for those of a contrary disposition."  --Blaise Pascal