Metathesis occurs in nouns of this group when an obstruent stop would otherwise occur before the liquid. No information currently available. Under the assumption that the stop and liquid belong to different syllables, the preferred ordering would place the stop after the liquid since the liquid is more sonorous than the stop. Metathesis may serve to position a stop consonant with vulnerable cues to place of articulation, in particular, in a position where its perceptibility is enhanced.
Liquids have stronger internal cues to both place and manner.
Stops, on the other hand, depend to a greater extent on contextual cues for information conerning place. Since Elmolo stops are not released in preconsonantal position, the occurrence of the stop consonant in prevocalic position facilitates identification of velar place, given the presence of both the transition and release burst. No information currently available. Hume, Elizabeth. 1997. Draft, v. 1.