Proto-Nodaimic Root Structure
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This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 30 Jun 2017, 13:08.
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This article is a work in progress! Check back later in case any changes have occurred.
This article is a work in progress! Check back later in case any changes have occurred.
Proto-Nodaimic roots conform to a particular structure, from which suffixes are added to form words.
Proto-Nodaimic roots are composed of one to three syllables, and end in a consonant or a diphthong (whose second component is treated as a consonant in phonotactics). Note that the thematic vowel found in nouns and many verbs is technically a semantically empty suffix, meaning that it is not part of the root. While it is possible for the root itself to begin with a vowel or diphthong, hiatus is forbidden within a root, meaning that second and third syllables must begin with a consonant. Vowels within a Proto-Nodaimic root are invariable; they do not change between different grammatical forms.
The position of stress within a root is specific to the root, and does not change whenever a derived word is inflected. A number of roots (e.g. *tah- "seven") do not have stress within the root itself, but stress the suffix directly following the root (e.g. *tahjó).
There are restrictions on the shape of the root. As mentioned above, hiatus is forbidden (unless a diphthong directly precedes a null-onset syllable; in that case the second component of the diphthong becomes a semivowel); a consonant must intervene between two vowels and/or diphthongs. In general, the syllable structure is (s)(C)(R)(j,w)V(i,u)(R)(s,f,h)(C), where C represents an obstruent, R represents a non-semivowel sonorant (*/r/, */l/, */m/, */n/) and V represents either a short or a long vowel.
The following additional constraints on the syllable structure are observed:
- There are only four possible diphthongs: */äu/, */äi/, */e̞i/ and */o̞u/. The combination */ij/ is realised as */i:/ before a consonant, and likewise with */uw/ becoming */u:/. The combination */e̞w/ becomes */o̞u/ before a consonant, and */o̞j/ becomes */e̞i/ in the same environment.
- If an */s/ occurs before another obstruent, that obstruent must be */k/, */kʷ/, */p/ or */t/. The only obstruent allowed to follow */ɸ/ and */x/ is */t/.
- Labiovelars and */w/ cannot occur next to */u/. Likewise, */j/ cannot occur before */i/.
- If a nasal is followed by an obstruent, the nasal and obstruent must be homorganic (e.g. **/md/ is forbidden; the sequence must be either */nd/ or */mb/). This constraint also applies across syllable boundaries.
- Labiovelars can only occur before a vowel. Any root-final labiovelars are delabialised in athematic derivations and before */u/.
There are also constraints on the possible clusters across syllable boundaries. Clusters of three or more obstruents (e.g. **/pst/, **/stk/, **/sksp/) are forbidden. Geminates are permitted, while the clusters **/rl/ and **/lr/ are forbidden (these sequences often assimilate to */ll/ at morpheme boundaries). Nasals cannot directly precede a liquid, instead requiring an intervening obstruent. If two obstruents occur next to each other, they must agree in voicing.
Finally there is one more constraint that governs the entire root. Within a root, non-sibilant fricatives (*/θ/, */ɸ/, */x/ and */xʷ/) must be separated from each other by more than one vowel/diphthong. As a result of this constraint, the only roots with two non-sibilant fricatives have two or three syllables, and no more than two non-sibilant fricatives may occur in a single root. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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