Re: Gnumin Phonology Sketch

In a message dated 7/17/01 10:53:05 PM, jdm314@AOL.COM writes:

<< It seems to me that a language wiht that many consonants and that few

vowels would very likely reinforce consonant phonemes with allophonic

vowel alternation. By way of example, I've often heard it said (and it's

been my experience) that you can recognize an Arabic emphatic consonant

more by the pronunciation of the adjacent vowels than by the consoant

itself! >>

    This is true, for the variety of Arabic I was taught initially, and
which, therefore, I speak.  Some examples:

"where" [?ejn]  vs.  "eye/fountain/letter 'ayn'" [?>Ajn]  (I don't know how
else to show a voiced, phyryngeal fricative; I just made up ?>)  The vowels
are the same; that's just how they come out.

    I can't think of any other minimal pairs...  For what it's worth:

"teacher" [d&:rIs] vs.  "soldier" [d>A:bIt>]

"letter t" [t&:] vs. "student" [t>A:lIb]

    Oooh, stomach hurts...  No more examples.

-David

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