Re: Proto-Altaic Phonology (inc. Vowel Harmony)
| From: | Roger Mills <romilly@...> |
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| Date: | Sunday, July 16, 2000, 5:16 |
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Danny Wier wrote:
>Yeah, that explains umlaut vowels in roots and not just suffixes. That
>sounds a little like what I call "Wier's Law" (just kidding) -- the
>tendency of languages to compress a CVCV group to CVVC then CVC, where
>one vowel disappears but not before influencing the other.
Interesting convergence. Apparently "Wier's Law" will be operative in the
historical phonology of Gwr, which I've been fiddling with for a while now.
How to get from a relatively simple phonology (3 vowels, aiu) CVCV(C)
(either syllable stressed) structure to a system of 8 vowels plus diphthongs
plus tones (C)V(C).
Knowing little or nothing about developments in Sino-Tibetan may or may not
be an advantage. Details to appear someday.