Ambiguity in Complex Segments: the case of Nivacle kl

GUTIÉRREZ, ANALÍA

Proceedings of the fortieth Western Conference On Linguistics

Department of Linguistics California State University, Fresno

Lugar: Fresno; Año: 2012; p. 224 - 235

In this paper, I argue for the analysis of Nivacle kl as a complex segment, thatdeveloped from Proto-Mataguayan *l. It is a non-canonical affricate in that thesequence of two phases agrees neither in place nor in sonority. Acoustic analysisshows that the occlusive dorsal onset is released into an alveolar approximant.Importantly, the lateral release is voiced and it is not fricated. The development of kl can be rooted in both prosodic (strengthening inprominent positions; i.e onsets) and speech perception factors (thereinterpretation of stops bursts as emergent stops). As a consequence, the twoNivacle laterals ["] and [k͡l] maximize their perceptual saliency and distinction.