Prosody, phonological domains and the structure of roots, stems and words in the Munda languages in a comparative/historical light

Abstract

Abstract Munda languages reveal competing word-level vs. phrase-level domains with respect to prosody, with weak-strong vs. strong-weak patterns, respectively. The prosodically strong syllable at the word-level is a root element that reflects cognacy across the family, while the word-frames they are embedded in frequently do not. Such a pattern of cognate roots and non-cognate word-frames is attested across the Austroasiatic phylum. The types of word-frames that such roots are embedded in reflect traces of a once-active system of semantically transparent prefixation or noun class marking, in addition to now mainly frozen systems of noun-verb stem compounding or noun incorporation. Word-level prosody in Munda is archaic, while phrase-level prosodic features are secondary and reflect local South Asian norms.