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Re: Celtic and Afro-Asiatic?

From:Patrick Littell <puchitao@...>
Date:Thursday, September 15, 2005, 4:56
On 9/14/05, Ph.D. <phil@...> wrote:
> Patrick Littell wrote: > > > > . . . Malagasy (VOS) exhibits initial consonant mutation. > > > Do you have any examples? I've been reading a textbook of > Malagasy. I'm about halfway through it, and I don't recall seeing > any examples of initial consonant mutation. > > --Ph. D. >
Sure. It's the genitive "stop" mutation used... well, used all over the place. For forming genitive "compounds", for putting agents in the genitive/ergative (depending on how you want to analyze it) after passive/circumstantial verbs, for incorporation, and even on the reduplicant of weak roots. f => p satroka + fotsy = satro-potsy (white hat) s => ts orona + saka = oron-tsaka (cat's nose) h => k amina + hafaliana = amin'kafaliana (with happiness) r => dr namana + Rabe = naman-dRabe (Rabe's friend) (certainly you've come across our good friend dRabe... since by law 50% of Malagasy example sentences must reference Rabe.) v => b paiso + vazaha = paisom-bazaha (plum "foreigner's peach") z => j manana + zanaka = manan-janaka (has children) l => d mitarika + lalana = mitari-dalana (leads the way) You could analyze it differently -- you could say, if you wanted, that it was a sort of "combining form" -- but to my eye it's a pretty typical case of initial consonant mutation. Your textbook probably analyzes it differently, 'cuz there's no way it could teach Malagasy and avoid the "stop" mutation. -- Patrick Littell PHIL101: W 6:00-8:50 Voice Mail: ext 744 Fall 05 Office Hours: W 5:00-6:00, by appointment