Re: Exit Methkaeki, (re)enter Mephali

MJR> |oñgelpñiþji| /,oN.gelp'NiT.Zi/.  The /pN/ and /TZ/
MJR> feel like articulatory gymnastics to me.  Any suggestions for realistic
MJR> lenition/assimilation rules that might help out?

PB> Instinctively, I have /,oN.gelm'b_<iS.dZ)i/ or something with a
PB> doubly-articulated /Nm)/ nasal in the middle of it.

b_<?  Why implosive?

RM> So what's wrong with that?? :-)))) As the old song has it, "every
RM> [word] is beautiful, in its own way..."

Call me crazy, but I prefer to be fairly comfortable pronouncing my own
conlangs.  :)

RM> However, after several repetitions, I find a tendency to change the
RM> 2nd ñ [N] to [n], and harden the T to [t]-- [,oN.gelp'nit.Zi]
RM> Maybe the [t] could assimilate voicing, [...d.Zi]
RM> Another thing that happens is t > ?, [....ni?.dZi]

All interesting ideas, but if the /t/ becomes [t], why is there still a
[d] before the [Z] in that case?

AJ> The very presence of syllable boundaries in those clusters makes them seem
AJ> not *too* tricky to me;

I would feel less awkward if they were *word* boundaries, but within a word,
even at intermorphemic junctures, I prefer want a more fluid sound.

AJ> if assimilation is to occur, I'd suggest /TZ/ going to [TS] or even [tS]
AJ> (the later would be the outcome with Tairezazh assimilation rules).

Could you summarize the Tairezazh assimilation rules easily?

AJ> No real idea on /pN/, which, too me, doesn't seem trickier than
AJ> anything else involving a syllable initial /N/.

It's going from open-airstream-with-lips-closed to
closed-airstreem-with-lips-open that makes it awkward.  And again, only
because it's within a word.


CT> My first guess would be [,oN.gelp.'miS.Si].

Interesting how different folks come up with different assimilations. :)

TM> And I will forever pronounce it as [ON"g&ltn@s], now (having suffered
TM> from my Australian accent; the intention is, of course [,oN.gelt'nis]).

Well, I'm honored to have introduced a new word into your vocabulary
that is going to last "forever". :)  But I'm not sure I understand you -
I think you're saying that you would assimilate it to
[,oN.gelt'nis]?  And if that were an English word, however it might be
spelled but with hypothetical phoneme sequence /oNgeltnis/, you would
pronounce it as [ON"g&ltn@s]?


-Marcos

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