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Re: A bunch of phonological questions

From:Chris Bates <chris.maths_student@...>
Date:Monday, September 19, 2005, 8:55
> 2. Affricate implosives > I know a few languages have affricate ejectives, but are affricate > implosives found anywhere? And might they end up "reversed"? At least > I find [zd)_<] easier to pronounce than [dz)_<]... >
THe wiki says: "Implosive affricates and fricatives are extremely unusual. Imploded affricates occur in Kung-Ekoka <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung-ekoka_language> and Hendo <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hendo&action=edit> (a Bantu language). Several Central Sudanic languages <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Sudanic_languages>, such as Mangbetu <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mangbetu_language&action=edit>, have implosive labiodental fricatives, which are "strongly imploded, the lower lip briefly pulled back into the mouth." As always, accuracy is not guaranteed.... however, "The Sounds of the World's Languages" (Ladefoged and Maddieson) agrees that they occur and gives the example of Gitskan. I think that two sources is enough to say they probably do occur.
> 3. Laterals > a) What's the difference between lateral release and a lateral affricate?
An affricate has friction, so for instance the lateral affricate commonly written tl in languages like Nahuatl is /tK)/. A laterally released stop lacks the fricative release of an affricate I think, and is basically formed by releasing the stop by lowering the sides of the tongue instead of the whole tongue but without the friction.
> b) Are /K K\/ considered sibilants or spirants? > > John Vertical > >
I don't think they're sibilants, since the air isn't escaping quickly through a narrow channel but from both sides of the tongue.