The Loss of Proto-Tibeto-Burman Final Velars in Standard Jinghpaw

Abstract

The aim of this paper is two-fold: to show that the standard dialect of Jinghpaw has irregularly lost several final velars of Proto-Tibeto-Burman based on comparative evidence; and to attempt to show that the lost velars are reconstructable for an earlier stage based on both Standard Jinghpaw-internal and external evidence. Standard Jinghpaw has played an important role in Tibeto-Burman historical-comparative linguistics due to its phonological conservativeness. The loss of final velars is one notable exception, and recognizing this phenomenon enables us to identify and establish more cognate sets between Jinghpaw and closely related languages that provide a basis for a more robust reconstruction of proto-languages. The irregular loss of proto-final velars also provides some implications for the internal classification of Jinghpaw.

Keywords

• historical-comparative linguistics
• sound change
• velar deletion
• Jinghpaw