Gedeo
- Language Family
- Afro-Asiatic
- Subgroup
- Cushitic
- Area
- —
Summary
Obstruent-sonorant sequences are metathesized.
Stem-final sonorants are metathesized with following glottal stops.
Type(s) of metathesis
| Type | Status | Optionality | Position | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. CC | Synchronic | Obligatory | Adjacent | Between root and suffix | |
| b. CC | Synchronic | Obligatory | Adjacent | Between root and suffix |
Case types and qualities
-
- CC
-
No segment parts found
-
- CC
-
No segment parts found
Examples
(1). Root-final obstruent and nasal suffix metathesize.
|
Verb stem |
V-1Pl-V-Perf-1Pl-Perf |
V-3Pl-V-Perf |
Gloss |
|
gib |
gi-m-b-e-nn-e |
gi-m-b-e |
refuse |
|
but |
bu-n-t-e-nn-e |
bu-n-t-e |
to abduct |
|
c’uf |
c’u-ɱ-f-e-nn-e |
c’u-ɱ-f-e |
to close |
(2). Root-final obstruent and lateral suffix metathesize. [l] is a variant of the middle suffix /eɖ/.
|
Verb stem |
V-Mid-V-3Sg.M-Perf |
Gloss |
|
ɑf |
ɑ-l-f-ø-e |
to get |
|
tuk’ |
tu-l-k’-ø-e |
to touch |
A sonorant-glottal stop cluster undergoes metathesis.
|
Verb stem |
V.Mid |
Gloss |
|
kul |
kuʔll |
to tell / to tell for own benefit |
|
gɑn |
gɑʔnn |
to hit / to hit oneself |
Conditions
When an obstruent-final root is in contact with a nasal suffix.
When a sonorant-final root is in contact with a glottal stop suffix.
Motivations
No motivations could be found
Symbols
Comments
Little data is available for Gedeo, but Hudson (1995) claims that Gedeo has "almost identical rules with different, noncognate suffixes" to those in Sidamo, another related East Cushitic language. See the entry of Sidamo for more information.
Bibliography
Hudson, Grover. 1995. Phonology of Ethiopian Languages. In John Goldsmith (ed.), Handbook of Phonological Theory. Oxford: Blackwell. 782-797.
Kelemework, Eyob. 2012. An Overview of Gedeo Segmental Phonology. In ed. Ansari, Mohammad. OPIL 38: 49-69.