> On Thu, Oct 14, 2004 at 11:12:44AM +0200, Rodlox wrote:
> > > becomes: pryn + odd (3rd singular past tense)
> > >
> > > Then in certain contexts, the "p" mutates to "b".
> > > Since the "p" is at the beginning of the word, it is
> > > called "initial consonant mutation".
> >
> > ah...though, maybe it's just my foggy mind...(dang cold)...but that
sounds
> > like a trigger language, as I understand it.
> >
> > is a "mutation" when it's attached to a word (ie, prynodd), and a
> > "trigger" when it isn't attached?
>
> Rodlox: now I'm confused. What are you talking about?
>
> As I read it, "initial consonant mutation" isn't any kind of technical
> linguistics terminology; it's just plain English. The initial consonant
> (e.g. /p/) undergoes a mutation (to /b/), therefore it's called initial
> consonant mutation. I suppose could have been called "first consonant
> change", but I can't think of any way to make it plainer than that.
> What the heck does a phonetic change like that have to do with triggers?
it sounds like the explanation I got (way earlier) regarding
triggers...only it's attached to a word.
my apologies for confusing you.