LINGUIST List 15.1173

Sat Apr 10 2004

Qs: Reduplication and Syllable Structure

Editor for this issue: Naomi Fox <foxlinguistlist.org>

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Sadie Williams, Potawatomi Reduplication

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Message 1: Potawatomi Reduplication

Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 09:50:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: Sadie Williams <sadielinguistlist.org>
Subject: Potawatomi Reduplication


I'm working on an OT analysis of reduplication in Potawatomi and I'm looking for other languages that may have a similar process.

Reduplication in Potawatomi is a productive phenomenon that primarily occurs on verbs. In all cases but one, the reduplicant is a copy of the first syllable of the verb.

ga:-ga:chab�wes

However, when the verb's first syllable has a short vowel the reduplicant is a copy of the first two syllables.

neba-neba

So, I'm looking for an analysis or constraint that explains why the reduplicant should always have two moras - either one syllable with two moras, or two syllables, each with one mora.

I'd rather not stipulate a constraint. If I can find another language that exhibits the same phenomenon, I feel it would strengthen my argument.

Thanks for your help!

Sadie Williams

Subject-Language: Potawatomi; Code: POT

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