Metathesis in Language 2.0

Ahtna

Language Family
Na-Dene
Subgroup
Athabaskan
Area
—

Summary

When a consonant follows the tsʔ (1st pl.) +cʔ (indefinite) sequence, metathesis takes place.

 

In the future-negative or optative-negative, the s/z occurs to the right of the gh or gho mode prefix when the subject pronoun slot is empty. Also the z-negative prefix is always s before [.

 

Verbs with the i transitional prefix in the future mode undergo metathesis when there is a zero subject pronoun.

 

Type(s) of metathesis

Type Status Optionality Position Location
a. CC Synchronic Obligatory Adjacent Across morpheme boundaries
b. CC Synchronic Obligatory Adjacent Across morpheme boundaries
c. CV Synchronic Obligatory Adjacent Across morpheme boundaries

Case types and qualities

Examples

/cʔ+tsʔ+t+gh+l+dzes/ > iʔstaldzes (CLW) cʔestaldzes (M)

CLW: Central, Lower, Western Ahtna
M: Mentasta Ahtna

cf. No metathesis before a vowel

'scʔeldzes'
'we are dancing'
 
'scʔaldziits'
'we danced'
 

 

z metathesis
surface form
/y + t + z + gh + dzaex + e/
gh s
[itasdzaeghe]
'he won't drink it'
/t + z + gh + es + dzaez + e/
---
[dzghasdzaeghe]
'I won't caulk it'
 

 

a) t/d + i + gh + [ --> i + t/d + gh + [

/na # y + t + i + gh + ɬ + taeɬ/
> nayitaɬtaeɬ
'he will find him'
 
/na # y + t + d + i + gh + tiiɬ/
> naydidatiiɬ
'he will find it'
 


b) t + i + gh + X --> i + t + V + gh + X (where X is a prefix in subject position)

/na # t + i + gh + es + ɬ + taeɬ/
> naʔitaaɬtaeɬ
'I will find him'
 
/na # t + i + gh + i + ɬ + taeɬ/
> naʔitighiɬtaeɬ
'you will find him'
 

 

Conditions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motivations

 

 

 

 

This could be related to syllable structure – an onset requirement – or purely morphological.

 

Symbols

 

 

Comments

Here, one only seems to get C/V metathesis across morpheme boundaries. Consider the possibility that this occurs not morpheme-internally bacause of complex syllable structure. Consonants and Vowels have to be linearly ordered.

 

Bibliography

  • Kari, James. 1979. Athabaskan Verb Theme Categories: Ahtna. Alaska Native Language Center Research Papers, Number 2. Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center.
  • Kari, James. 1990. Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary. Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center.