Contrast preservation and other segmental effects in the formation of Xochistlahuaca Amuzgo plurals

Abstract

In Amuzgo (Eastern Otomanguean), the formation of nominal plurals exhibits many realizations, ranging from the simple addition of a nasal prefix, to additional initial consonant fortition, initial consonant deletion, and sometimes also the replacement of the prefixal nasal by a lateral. In this paper, we argue that all of these changes follow from two main principles: (1) The underlying contrast between the two pairs of phonemes characterized by a delayed release – the [+anterior] /s, ʦ/ and the [‑anterior] /ʃ, ʧ/ – must be maintained; and (2) /s, ʃ/ cannot be faithfully realized after [n]. These principles, in interaction with other considerations, lead to an establishment of a push chain (/s/→/ʦ/→/t/) among [+anterior] consonants and to a case of saltation (/ʧ/→/ʧ/; /ʃ/→/k/) among [-anterior] consonants.