EVIDENCE FOR A SERIES OF SIBILANT CLUSTERS IN TAI AND SINO-TAI RELATIONSHIP

In Li (1977), initial clusters involving liquids /-l-/ or /-r-/ have been reconstructed exclusively for labials (*pl/r- *phl/r- *bl/r- *vl/r- *ml-), dentals (*tl/r- *th/r- *dl/r- *dl/r- *nl/r-) and velars (*kl/r- *khl/r- *gl/r- *xl/r- *□l/r- *ηl/r-) for Proto-Tai. This paper will present new evidenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Chinese Linguistics 1998-01, Vol.26 (1), p.71-125
Main Author: 罗永现(Yongxian Luo)
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:In Li (1977), initial clusters involving liquids /-l-/ or /-r-/ have been reconstructed exclusively for labials (*pl/r- *phl/r- *bl/r- *vl/r- *ml-), dentals (*tl/r- *th/r- *dl/r- *dl/r- *nl/r-) and velars (*kl/r- *khl/r- *gl/r- *xl/r- *□l/r- *ηl/r-) for Proto-Tai. This paper will present new evidence that along with Li's proposals, a series of sibilant clusters also existed in Proto-Tai. The evidence includes, among other things, the correspondence between the laryngeal fricative /h/ in the Southwestern group and the laminal or alveolar fricative /s/ in the Northern group, and between the liquid /l/ and the fricative /s/ between these two groups. Supporting evidence can be found in related Kam-Sui languages and the Hlai language of Hainan Island. In addition, abundant lexical materials from Chinese and Tai show a somewhat systematic sound correspondence between these two groups in the phonetic series of sibilants and liquids. This phenomenon has offered insight into a wider issue, which needs to be addressed if we wish to see Sino-Tai relationships in a clearer perspective.
ISSN:0091-3723