Nunation from Arabic to Maltese

Main author: Lucas, Christopher
Other authors: Spagnol, Michael
Format: Book Chapters           
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id eprints-36815
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This article discusses Maltese words containing an innovative final /n/, arguing that /n/ addition is motivated by speakers’ expectation that lexical items resemble prototypical Maltese phonological words. /n/ is added to items that deviate from this prototype in containing a word-final stressed open syllable. Syllable closure through consonant addition eliminates this deviation. /n/ is the consonant chosen because of its pre-existing alternation with zero wordfinally. Discussion of the details of this process and the items it does (not) affect sheds light on the history of Arabic and Maltese, as well as on the nature of irregular phonological change in general.
author_additional Turek, Przemyslaw
author_additionalStr Turek, Przemyslaw
format Book Chapters
author Lucas, Christopher
author_facet Lucas, Christopher
Spagnol, Michael
authorStr Lucas, Christopher
author_letter Lucas, Christopher
author2 Spagnol, Michael
author2Str Spagnol, Michael
title Nunation from Arabic to Maltese
publisher De Gruyter
publishDate 2022
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/36815/