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Article published In: Language and Linguistics
Vol. 26:2 (2025) ► pp.294–322

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Labialized onsets in Rma

 | University of Oregon
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Published online: 6 March 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/lali.00185.sim
Abstract
In the study of Rma phonology (Eastern Tibeto-Burman < Sino-Tibetan/​Trans-Himalayan), there have been differing perspectives regarding labialized onsets both in synchrony and diachrony. Synchronically, these forms have been treated as CuV or as CwV sequences (Sun, Jackson T.-S. 2003. Issues in Mawo Qiang phonology. Journal of Taiwanese Languages and Literature 1(1). 227–242.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). In terms of diachrony, Chang, Kun. 1967. A comparative study of the Southern Ch’iang dialects. Monumenta Serica 26(1). 422–443. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar reconstructs the following set of bilabial-stop initial clusters: *Bt, *Bd, *Bts, *Btsh, *Bdz, *Bs. Evans (Evans, Jonathan P. 2001. Introduction to Qiang phonology and lexicon: Synchrony and diachrony. Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; 2006a. Origins of vowel pharyngealization in Hongyan Qiang. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 29(2). 95–123. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) reconstructs none of these and proposes that labialized onsets are secondary developments in the dialects that have them.
This paper explores the issue of labialized onsets through the lens of a previously undocumented variety of Rma. It offers a new perspective on the synchronic analysis for these segments as phonologically Cw and contributes to an older discussion about the diachrony of these sounds. The paper finds support for Evans, Jonathan P. 2001. Introduction to Qiang phonology and lexicon: Synchrony and diachrony. Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar theory that these sounds are secondary developments from *-w- elements while also finding sub-group external evidence that some come from *p- pre-initials.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Empirical materials
    • 1.2Outline
  • 2.Labialized initials in Shiguzi Rma
    • 2.1Consonants
    • 2.2Vowels
    • 2.3Syllable structure
      • 2.3.1Complex onsets
      • 2.3.2Stop-fricative clusters
      • 2.3.3Syllable canon
      • 2.3.4Codas
      • 2.3.5Labialized onsets: Synchrony
      • 2.3.6CuV
      • 2.3.7CwV
      • 2.3.8CwV
    • 2.4Interim summary
  • 3.Diachrony of labialized onsets in Qiang
    • 3.1Rma-internal
    • 3.2Pre-initial *p-
    • 3.3Labialization from sources other than *pC
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • List of abbreviations
  • References
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