Nasalization:
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Nasalization /~/ is phonemic in the language. All vowels can occur as
nasalized and in all the positions. In the environment of a nasal
consonant or a nasalized vowel, the nasalization spreads on the following
or preceding vowel.
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Nasalized vowels occur in contrast with oral vowels as well as nasal
consonants. Examples showing contrasts are given below:
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Contrast of oral and nasalized vowels.
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/si /
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‘sew(imp.)’ :
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/sĩ /
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‘nose blow’
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| /ma/ |
‘in/ : |
/mã/
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‘mother’
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/ga/
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‘sing’ : |
/gã/
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‘cow’
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/tera/
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‘yours’ :
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/terã/
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‘thirteen’
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/bIccu/
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‘scorpion’ :
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/bIccũ/
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‘through’
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Nasalization vs. Nasals
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/gã/
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‘cow’ :
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/ga¸/
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‘to sing’
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/khũi/
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‘curved stick’ :
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/khu i/
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‘unsharpened’
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/kũi/
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‘an iron made : |
/kui/
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‘bolt’
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instrument with
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wooden handle |
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for taking
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things from the
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height’
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Examples to show that all the vowels occur as nasalized and
nasalization occur in all the positions.
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/sĩkh/
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‘window sash’
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/dĩ/
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‘sun’
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/sĨg/
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‘horn’
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/ţẽci/
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‘box’
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/kẽci/
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‘scissors’
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/  wasi/
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‘nausea’
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/déro/
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‘darkness’
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/ã o/
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‘egg’
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/dãw /
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‘rope used to tighten the cot’
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/bã/
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‘arm’
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/ũh/
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‘camel’
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/jũţ/
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‘yoke’
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/jũ/
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‘louse’
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/cŨj/
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‘beak’
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/sr /
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‘mustard’
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/rso/
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‘antelope’
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| /õs/
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‘ounce’
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Contrast of Tones
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Low vs. High
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/kà ¸i/
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‘division’ :
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/kái/
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‘story’
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/kò o/
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‘horse’ :
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/kòro/
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‘fog’
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/ kki/
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‘covered’ :
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/kki/ |
‘slope’
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/pò/
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‘hay’ :
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/pó/
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‘the name of the month’
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Mid vs. Low
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/i/
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‘heel’ :
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/ái/
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bone’
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/trti/
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‘swimming’ : |
/trti/ |
‘earth’
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/kr/
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‘do’ :
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/kr/
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‘home’
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/pai/
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‘found’ :
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/pài/
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‘brother’
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/ki/
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‘did’ : |
/kì/
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‘ghee’
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/tru/
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‘miscarriage’ :
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/trù/
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‘drag’
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(for cattles)
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Mid vs. High
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/bar/
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‘Saturday’ :
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/bãr/
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‘out’
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/saro/
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‘complete :
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/sãro/
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‘smooth’
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whole’ |
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