A phonological reconstruction of Proto-Hlai
By: by Peter K. Norquest
Series: The languages of Asia series
Publisher: Brill
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Leiden; Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 368
ISBN-13: 9789004300163; 9789004300521
Subjects: Phonology; Reconstruction (Linguistics); Proto-Li language
Description: In 'A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Hlai', Norquest presents a reconstruction of Proto-Hlai based on data from twelve Hlai languages spoken on Hainan, China. This reconstruction includes chapters on both the Proto-Hlai initials and rimes, and original sesquisyllabic forms are shown to be necessary to account for the reflexes between the daughter languages. A comparison is made between Proto-Hlai and Proto-Tai, and a preliminary reconstruction of Proto Southern Kra-Dai (the immediate ancestor of Proto-Hlai) is performed. When this is compared with Proto-Hlai, it is shown that several important sound changes occurred between Pre-Hlai and Proto-Hlai. The aberrant Jiamao language is also examined, focusing on its complex contact relationships with other Hlai languages.
Notes: Based on the author's thesis (doctoral)--University of  Arizona, 2007.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.