Re: David qua David

David Peterson wrote:
> Vowels: [u], [u:], [ae], [ae:], [i], [i:], [y], [y:], [I], [I:], [E], [E:],
> [R], [R:] (this last one is that err vowel in "bird", "herd", "curd", et
> cetera)
So, only 2 back vowels and 12 front vowels?

> [q'] (uvular ejective, used only in some verb conjugations--remnant
> of an olders system).
Generally, if a language has only one ejective, it will be [k'].  Also,
ejectives are generally either used only in lexical items, or in both
lexical items and grammatical morpheme.

> Plurals:
> 1.) If the stressed vowel in a word is [u] or [R], it changes to [y] and
> [ae], respectively (keeping its length, if there is any)
> 2.) If the stressed vowel is a front vowel, it moves up a step: [ae]>[E],
> [E]>[I], [I]>[i]
> 3.) If the vowel is a high front vowel, it switches with the other high front
> vowel: [i]>[y], [y]>[i]
Cool!  Altho that last one seems somewhat artificial.

> Accusative: The first and last vowels switch.  So, a word can look the same
> in the nominative and accusative, given the first and last vowels are the
> same, or that the word is one syllable long: ['zi:GEB], ['dE:ntsaez] (note
> the stress change)
Interesting, but it seems rather artificial.

> Dative: The first vowel goes to [ae], and if it's [ae], it goes to [u]:
> [zae'Gi:B], [dun'tsE:z]
So, suppose you had, [zE:Gi:B] and [zi:Gi:B], then those two would be
identical in the dative?

> [r]+[j]>[H]
This one doesn't make much sense.

It's interesting, but strikes me as artificial.

--
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