Re: initial mutation or trigger? Re: re Mutations initial (in Welsh,

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?

-Marcos

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