Vol. 35 No. 2 12/2005
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Title |
A Diachronic Look into Aberrant Synchronic Sound Patterns |
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Author |
Hui-chuan Hsu |
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Genre |
Article |
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Pages |
435-456 |
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Download |
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Language |
English |
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Key words |
secret language, onomatopoeia reduplication, l-separated words |
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Abstract |
This paper argues that the concept of 'pure synchronic phonology' which possibly emerges as a result of the over-application of the learnability viewpoint to the study of language can be a myth. Existent phonological patterns which plague a unified synchronic analysis may actually reflect remnants of an earlier phonology. A wide range of dialect materials from three Southern Min secret languages, Chaoyang onomatopoeia reduplication, to Datong l-separated words all reveal the feasibility of tackling aberrant synchronic sound patterns from a diachronic perspective. |
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