Metathesis in Language 2.0

Andi

Language Family
Northeast Caucasian
Subgroup
Avar-Andic
Area
Dagestan

Summary

The initial /r/ in the word rihi 'time' optionally metathesizes with a preceding /b/.

Type(s) of metathesis

Type Status Optionality Position Location
a. CC Synchronic Optional Adjacent Between root and prefix

Case types and qualities

Examples

The following description is due to Timur Maisak and colleagues.

The word rihi 'time' occurs in various temporal constructions, in particular "participle + 'time'" meaning 'in the time when...' or with the demonstrative pronoun heb 'that' meaning 'at that time; then'.

For example:
he-b rihi [that-5 time] 'then' (here, 5 is an agreement marker of the 5th gender, to which the word 'time' belongs)
čːi-b rihi [give-PTCP time] 'when (he) gave' (here, PTCP is a perfective participle marker)

Now, when there is a sequence -b-rihi, it often surfaces as -rbihi, e.g.
he-b-rihi -> he-rbihi 'then'
abža-b-rihi  -> abža-rbihi [begin-PTCP-time] 'when (he) began'

Thus, there is optional metathesis /br/>/rb/. It is only attested in this environment. In principle, both orders are attested (in texts) for some constructions, but some constructions favor one order. For example, the /rb/ order is more common with adverbial herbihi 'then'.

 

Conditions

No conditions could be found

Motivations

No motivations could be found

Symbols

Comments

Bibliography

[Maisak, T.A.] Майсак Т. А. Глагольная парадигма удинского языка (ниджский диалект) // Алексеев М. Е., Майсак Т. А. (отв. ред.) Удинский сборник: грамматика, лексика, история языка. М.: Academia, 2008. С. 96—161.