Re: CHAT: 'mother' [was: Re: The Conlang Instinct]

Bryan Maloney>>>>>>
On Fri, 3 Dec 1999, dirk elzinga wrote:

> articulate, they are among the first acquired. Hence, words for
> 'mother', 'father', etc will contain labials and alveolars. Clint just
> weighed in with Finnish and Barry with Tagalog, and both of those forms
> contain an alveolar. Shoshoni has /pia/ 'mother' (/pii/ in some
> dialects), and /appi-/ 'father'. Used as a term of address, the
> diminutive suffix /-ttsi/ is added: /piattsi/ 'Mom!'

How many of those are /ma/?
<<<<<<

None.  The point was about the prevalence of bilabials and alveolars (and
"a"/"i"?), as they are (roughly) the easiest sounds to produce and to
differentiate.





*************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential
and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity
to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the
sender. This footnote also confirms that this email message
has been scanned for the presence of computer viruses.
*************************************************************