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Article published In: Language and Linguistics
Vol. 26:4 (2025) ► pp.695–751

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A phonological and lexical profile of Sastod

A non-Amdo Tibetic language of Khrochu (Sichuan)

ORCiD logo with link | Academia Sinica
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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: 8 August 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/lali.00244.sun
Abstract
Sastod is a previously undescribed form of Tibetic located in the far-western corner of Khrochu County in northern Sichuan. This first publication on the language features a detailed treatment of the Sastod sound system and its evolution, drawing on primary fieldwork data. The special phonological and lexical traits of Sastod presented here bear out its distinct identity from the regionally dominant Amdo language. The diagnostic Sastod sound changes shared across varieties of Khrochu Tibetan further reveal Sastod’s close affinity with its Tibetic neighbors inside the county.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Synchronic phonology presented in historical light
    • 2.1Syllable canon
    • 2.2Onsets
      • 2.2.1Simplex onsets
      • 2.2.2Cluster onsets
    • 2.3Rhymes
      • 2.3.1Open rhymes
      • 2.3.2Closed rhymes
  • 3.Non-Amdo phonological traits
    • 3.1Elaborate complex onsets
    • 3.2Reduced coda inventory
    • 3.3Vʔ and Ṽ rhymes
    • 3.4Vowel length
  • 4.Non-Amdo phonological developments
    • 4.1Primary Amdo sound changes not shared by Sastod
      • 4.1.1Labial stop lenition
      • 4.1.2CT Kr and Ky
      • 4.1.3CT ang and ing
      • 4.1.4CT i and u
    • 4.2Sastod sound changes not shared by Amdo
      • 4.2.1Genesis of long vowels
      • 4.2.2New segmental distinctions
      • 4.2.3Characteristic mergers
  • 5.Summary and conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • List of abbreviations
  • References
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