Glottalized resonants in NLe kepmxcin (Thompson River Salish)

Abstract

This study examines properties of glottalized resonants (/m’, n’, l’, y’, w’/) in NLe?kepmxcin, a Northern Interior Salish language, both comparing them with their plain counterparts (m, n, l, y, w) and considering contextual factors as defined by word, syllable, and prominence positions. Despite the relative cross-linguistic rarity of glottalized resonants, they are of considerable theoretical interest given that several recent studies [e.g., Bird and Caldecott, Proceedings of the 10th AICSST (in press)] indicate that their articulatory and acoustic realization may vary significantly across languages and contexts. Of particular relevance to the present study is Carlson, Esling, and Harris’ [UMOPL 17, 58–71 (2004)] claim that in NLe?kepmxcin ‘‘glottalized resonants are a sequential combination of the resonant plus [glottal stop]’’ [pg. 64]. Based on the analysis of glottalized resonants in this study, it appears that the picture is more complex than consistent post-glottalization. Of special interest are glottalized resonants in word-initial position, both because this class is seriously under-represented in the previous literature, and because its characteristics challenge Carlson, Esling, and Harris’ sequencing generalization. Understanding the organization of glottalized resonants will help clarify both sequential and markedness issues in NLe?kepmxcin phonology. [Work supported by SSHRC.]