Amharic
- Language Family
- Afro-Asiatic
- Subgroup
- Semitic
- Area
- —
Summary
In words with initial 'rɨ', the vowel is optionally transposed.
In the casual verbs with initial 'a', metathesis is optionally observed.
Metathesis of two consonants across an intervening vowel is observed in some lexical items.
Type(s) of metathesis
| Type | Status | Optionality | Position | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. CV | Synchronic | Optional | Adjacent | Root-initial | |
| b. CV | Synchronic | Optional | Adjacent | Root-internal | |
| c. CC | Synchronic | Optional | Non-adjacent | Root-internal |
Case types and qualities
-
- CV
-
- C:
- Rhotic
- V:
- High front
-
- CV
-
- C:
- Labio-dental fricative
- V:
- High central
-
- CC
-
- C1:
- Bilabial nasal
- C1:
- Alveolar fricative
- C1:
- Alveolar stop
- C1:
- Labio-velar glide
- C2:
- Alveolar stop
- C2:
- Rhotic
- C2:
- Velar stop
- C2:
- Glottal fricative
Examples
In words with initial 'rɨ', the vowel is optionally transposed.
ɨrda
~
rɨda
'help!'
ɨrkus
~
rɨkus
'defiled'
In the causal verbs with initial 'a', metathesis is optionally observed.
at'iftwall
~
at'fiwall
'he has extinguished'
Metathesis of two consonants across an intervening vowel is observed in some lexical items.
set't'eme
~
semmet'e
'he sank'
gezzere
~
gerreze
'he circumcised'
Conditions
No conditions could be found
Motivations
No motivations could be found
Symbols
ɨ = intermediate vowel between [u] and [i] but slightly nearer [i]
t' = [t] modified by forcible ejection and presence of the glottal stop
Comments
Bibliography
- Abraham, R. C. 1968. The Principles of Amharic. Institute of African Studies. Lowe & Brydone: London.
- Dawkins, C. H. 1969. The Fundamentals of Amharic. Sudan Interior Mission: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.