Re: [conculture] Re: The things one finds

Barry Garcia wrote:
>
>I did however keep the changes consistent with sounds that are produced
>from the same area of the mouth. Another question is, is it natural for
>say /g/  to become /k/ and then /k/ to become /g/?
I don't see why not. I'm picturing a rather complicated change=20
involving only laryngeal setting. Say /k/ recieves a stiff laryngeal=20
setting (where that vocal chords are held tightly and almost tight=20
enought to inhibit vibration). While /g/ recieves a slack laryngeal=20
setting (with the vocal chords held loosely but not so lose to inhibit=20
vibration. But then a a process of laryngeal 'loosening' occurs. Both=20
can then be considered voiced or voiceless depending on one's view,=20
since vibration of both of these laryngeal settings ceases only due to=20
lack of efforts to sustain it (ie., passive devoicing occurs as the=20
supralaryngeal pressure builds up behind the oral closure). Actually,=20
these laryngeal settings are what distinguishes the stops of Javanese.=20
Anyways, if the language continues on this road where both the stiff=20
and slack series continuously loosens the laryngeal setting, then the=20
language will eventually have reversed /k/ and /g/.

-kristian- 8)