Evolution of Phonology in Language

Case of Timor Leste

Authors

  • Roberto Gonzales Fakuldade Siensia Edukasaun, Universida de Dili, Timor Leste

Keywords:

Language evolution, Language genetic, Language grouping, Reconstructing, Protolanguage

Abstract

This study observed nine languages: two languages in Kisar Island and seven  in East Timor. The data were collected through interviews and face-to face conversations with the informants who were selected by purposive sampling until a point of saturation was reached. The data analysis was done by using vertical-horizontal syncomparative and diacomparative method which led to the following conclusions.

Oirata (Or), Bunak (Bn), Makasai (Mk) were diachronically and convincingly proved to have a close genetic relationship with a split patterned family tree. The Oirata-Fataluku-Makasai (OFM) group that was once the ancestor of the three languages underwent a split into Oirata-Fataluku (OF) and Mk. It means that Or is closer o Ft than Mk and at the same time it refuted the opinions of Greenberg (1971) and Capell (1975) that Or is closer to Mk.

Or turned out to have undergone an internal phonological evolution as the result of a diachronic interaction with languages that were genetically related to it in the form of: (1) vocal split */i//_#, */a//#_ and /_#; (2) vocal merger */e//_#, (3) vocal centralization, (4) consonant split and (5) voiced stop consonant formation. The external phonological evolution was caused by the contact with the languages in the region and  Or has undergone: (1) enrichment of consonant phonemes: /b/, /c/, /d/, /j/, /g/, /ng/, /f/, /v/, and /z/, (2) formation of clusters, (3) addition of homorganic nasal stop consonant clusters: /mp/,/mb/, /nt/, /n?/, and (4) shift toward a non-vocalic language.

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Published

2019-10-27

How to Cite

Gonzales, R. (2019). Evolution of Phonology in Language: Case of Timor Leste. The International Journal of Language and Cultural (TIJOLAC), 1(01), 1–11. Retrieved from https://www.growingscholar.org/journal/index.php/TIJOLAC/article/view/3

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Vol. 1 No. 01 (2019): September

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