SOUND CHANGE
1. From Proto-Iwaidjan to Mawng
Consider the following changes from Proto-Iwaidjan to Mawng.
Proto-Iwaidjan Mawng Meaning
*maɭɾagan maɭagan ‘slowly, carefully’
*lɾa la ‘and’
*lɾiɾi liɾi ‘fight (n.)’
*wagaɽi wagaɻi ‘elbow’
*-aɽaga -uɻaga ‘go’
Notes: assume that the transcription uses IPA and transcribes phonemes; /lɾ/ and /ɭɾ/ refer to a class of sounds called “flapped laterals”. Articulatorily, they are best described as a mixture of [l]/[ɭ] and [d]; they typically involve a short time where there is a total stppage of airflow. The asterisk (*) marks forms that are reconstructed.
Ǫuestions:
a) Describe all sound changes from Proto-Iwaidjan to Mawng, assuming they are fully regular.
b) What have the changes to the consonants in common? Could they be described with one techinical term, and if so, what would that be? Explain your answer.
c) The following words were borrowed from a neighbouring language. The table gives the source language and the Mawng form (/a:/ refers to a long vowel)
Source Mawng
nagaŋila na:ŋila
nagamaɾaŋ na:maɾaŋ
How can the change between the source language and Mawng be described? How would this fit in with the consonant changes described in a) and b).
