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Differences in airstream and posterior place of articulation among Nǀuu clicks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Amanda L. Miller ,
Johanna Brugman ,
Bonny Sands ,
Levi Namaseb ,
Mats Exter  and
Chris Collins
Amanda L. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, Cornell University am332@cornell.edu
Johanna Brugman
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, Cornell University jcb52@cornell.edu
Bonny Sands
Affiliation:
Department of English, Northern Arizona University sands@lowell.edu
Levi Namaseb
Affiliation:
Department of Language and Literature Studies, The University of Namibia lnamaseb@unam.na
Mats Exter
Affiliation:
Institut für Linguistik, Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft, Universität zu Köln mats.exter@uni-koeln.de
Chris Collins
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, New York University cc116@nyu.edu
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Abstract

This paper describes the consonant inventory of the endangered southern African language Nǀuu. Our novel approach to segment classification accounts for all 73 Nǀuu consonants with just four phonetic dimensions (place, manner, phonation, airstream) and does away with the phonetically empty category click accompaniment. We provide ultrasound data showing that the posterior constrictions in clicks are not produced at the ‘velar’ place of articulation, and that posterior place differs with anterior place. We therefore argue for a terminological shift from velaric to lingual airstream mechanism. Our data also show that the posterior place of articulation is the same in Nǀuu's five lingual ([⊙ ǀ ǃ ǁ ǂ]) and linguo-pulmonic ([]) stops. We argue that the difference between these segment classes is best captured in terms of airstream, not place. Plain clicks use only the lingual airstream, while linguo-pulmonic segments are airstream contours, in which the transition to the pulmonic airstream occurs within the segment rather than at its boundary. Our evidence suggests that the contrast between ‘velar’ and ‘uvular’ clicks proposed for the related language ǃXóõ is likely also one of airstream and that a contrast solely in terms of posterior place would be articulatorily impossible.

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Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Phonetic Association , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , August 2009 , pp. 129 - 161
Copyright
Copyright © International Phonetic Association 2009

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