On the history of the Rejang vowels and diphthongs
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2871418 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Robert Blust (1. [email protected], corresponding author) |
| Year | 1984 |
| Volume | 140 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 422-450 |
| Publication date | 1984-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Bijdragen tot de taal- land- en volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0006-2294 • E-ISSN: 2213-4379 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1163/22134379-90003407 |
| OpenAlex | W631300485 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 3 |
The development of the Proto-Austronesian (PAN) vowels in Rejang is of interest for two reasons.First, it exemplifies a pattern of phonemic splits, shifts and mergers of unusual complexity for an Austronesian (AN) language.Second, it shows that this pattern and exceptions to it cannot be stated in full without reference to semantic conditions.In connection with the first point Dyen (1949) described the development of the PAN vowels in Trukese.His central concern was to state the conditions under which a reconstructed four vowel system could be mapped systematically onto an attested nine vowel system.Superficially the history of the Rejang vowels appears simpler, as Rejang has only six vowel contrasts.However, the PAN vowels have in fact undergone more splits in Rejang than in Trukese.This greater diachronic complexity is partially reflected in a wealth of diphthongs possibly unequalled in any other AN language.In connection with the second point the often-heard assertion that meaning-based exceptions to sound change do not exist appears to conflict with the exceptional character of the Rejang pronouns and perhaps the kinship terms in relation to otherwise wellestablished phonological changes.*bahi "female" > bie "female (animals)" *talih > tihy "rope, string" (also: 190) (2) the PMP "laryngeal" *q > ? in final position, but otherwise disappeared:*putiq > putea?"white" (also : 9, 17, 21, 23, 36, 37, 46
Diphthong · Linguistics · Vowel · History · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Linguistics and language evolution · Philosophy · Phonetics and Phonology Research
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,09 |
| Citation span | 1993 - 2011 (19) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |