BONGGI
(Sabah, Malaysia; Austronesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian)		 For more information about metathesis in this language, click on the following links:
Summary:
a. Both diachronic and synchronic metathesis of /r/ and a 
   following vowel are found.
b. Diachronic and synchronic /l/ metathesis were posited to 
    account for the derivation of present Bonggi forms from 
    proto forms and that of surface forms from underlying
    forms, respectively.
Examples
Conditions
Motivation
Additional info
Comments
References

 
Examples:
(See Comments for key to special characters used.)
1. /r/ metathesis
a. Diachronic Process: /r/ metathesizes with a following vowel in an unstressed syllable if the vowel precedes an alveolar stop /t, d, n/. 
 
Putative proto-form



/ba.rat/  /ba.art/  ['baaRt^] 'west'  (Malay barat)
/Na.ran/  /Na.arn/  ['Na~a~Rdn]  'name'  (Dusun Naran)

b. Synchronic Process: /r/ metathesis is observed in affixed forms.
 
Root



ajar  ['aDaR]  'to teach'  /aDar/ + /On/  [E'DaaRdn]
-orod 
'numb'  /m/ + /OrOd/  ['mO~O~Rd^]

2. /l/ metathesis
a. Diachronic Process: According to Boutin (2000), present forms of some Bonggi nouns can be derived from proto-forms by the interaction of five different phonological processes; 1) /l/ metathesis; 2) palatalization of /l/; 3) geminate reduction; 4) coalescence; 5) V preplosion.
 
Proto form     /l/ metathesis   /l/ palatalization   geminate reduction     coalescence     V preplosion
*dalan     'path' >      daaln >     daain >       dain
>   [dajdn]
*talun     'forest' >      tauln >     tauin
>     toin >   [tojdn] ~ [te jdn]

b. Synchronic Process: When the suffix '-On' is added to a stem ending in /l/, /l/ palatalizes to /i/ and /O/ is subsequently deleted. Boutin (2000) accounts for this in terms of /l/ metathesis, /l/-palatalization to [i] and vowel reduction.
 
Unerlying form /tOmbOl/ + /On/ 
/l/ metathesis tOmbOOln
Palatalization of /l/ tOmbOOin 
Tensing of mid vowel tOmbooin
Geminate reduction tOmboin
Offglide formation tOmbojn
Stress tOm'bojn
Neutralization  tEm'bojn
Labialization  tEm'bwojn 
Nasal preplosion  tEm'bwojdn 
Derived form [tEm'bwojdn] 
 
Conditions:
No information currently available.
Motivation:
No information currently available.
Additional information:
a. Word final nasals 
  • When a preceding vowel is nasalized, word final nasals are realized as simple [m], [n], [N].

    •  
    onom /O.nOm/  ['OnO~m]  'six'
    mien /mi.En/  ['mi~E~n] 'aunt'
    tingaang /ti.Na.aN/  [ Ti'Na~a~N] 'scorpion'
  • When a preceding vowel is non-nasalized, word final nasals are preploded.

    •  
    agubm /a.gum/ ['agwUbm]  'type of shellfish'
    Sandahadn /san.da.kan/  [sEn'dahEdn]  'Sandakan' (place name)
    adakng /a.daN/  ['adEkN]  'charcoal'
    Comments:
    Special Symbols:
    R = flap
    t^ = unreleased voiceless alveolar stop
    N = velar nasal
    '   = stress marker
    V~ = nasalized vowel
    bm = preploded bilabial nasal
    dn  = preploded alveolar nasal
    kN = preploded velar nasal
    D  = voiced palatal affricate
    O  = mid back rounded lax vowel (open 'o')
    Cw  = labialized consonant
    E  = mid central lax vowel ('schwa')
    T  = dentalized 't'

    Last updated: 10/26/2001
    References:
  • Boutin, Michael. 2000. Blocking nasal spread in Bonggi. Paper presented at SEALS conference.
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