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Velar lateral ejective affricate

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Velar lateral ejective affricate
k𝼄ʼ
kʟ̝̊ʼ
Audio sample

The velar lateral ejective affricate is a rare type of consonantal sound, used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is ⟨k𝼄ʼ⟩ (extIPA; strict IPA: ⟨kʟ̝̊ʼ⟩).

It is found in two forms in Archi, a Northeast Caucasian language of Dagestan, plain [k𝼄ʼ] and labialized [k𝼄ʷʼ]. It is further forward than velars in most languages, and might better be called prevelar. Archi also has voiceless (pulmonic) variants of its lateral affricates, several voiceless lateral fricatives, and a voiced lateral fricative at the same place of articulation, but no alveolar lateral fricatives or affricates.[1]

[k𝼄ʼ] is also found as an allophone of /kx/ (ejective after a nasal) in Zulu and Xhosa, and of the velar ejective affricate /kxʼ/ in Hadza. In the latter, it contrasts with palatal [c𝼆], as in [c𝼆ʼak𝼄ʼa] 'to cradle'. In fact, the velar ejective is reported to be lateral, or to have a lateral allophone, in various languages of Africa which have clicks, including Taa, various varieties of !Kung, Gǁana (including Gǀui dialect), Khwe (ǁAni dialect), and Khoekhoe.[2]

Features

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Features of the velar lateral ejective affricate:

  • Its manner of articulation is affricate, which means it is produced by first stopping the airflow entirely, then allowing air flow through a constricted channel at the place of articulation, causing turbulence.
  • Its place of articulation is velar, which means it is articulated with the back of the tongue (the dorsum) at the soft palate.
  • Its phonation is voiceless, which means it is produced without vibrations of the vocal cords.
  • It is an oral consonant, which means air is allowed to escape through the mouth only.
  • It is a lateral consonant, which means it is produced by directing the airstream over the sides of the tongue, rather than down the middle.
  • The airstream mechanism is ejective (glottalic egressive), which means the air is forced out by pumping the glottis upward.

Occurrence

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Language Word IPA Meaning Notes
Archi[3] кьан [k𝼄ʼan] 'to love' Pre-velar.[3] Archi contrasts between plain and labialized versions.
Gǀui[4] [example needed] In free variation with the /kxʼ/.
Sandawe tl’ungu [k𝼄ʼùŋɡȕ] 'sky' Allophone of /tɬʼ/ before /u, w/
ǁXegwi [example needed]
Zulu umklomelo [umk𝼄ʼɔˈmɛːlo] 'prize'

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Archi language tutorial" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  2. ^ Hirosi Nakagawa, 1996. An Outline of Gǀui Phonology.
  3. ^ a b Archi dictionary entry for /k͡𝼄ʼan/, including sound file
  4. ^ Nakagawa, Hirosi. (1996). "An Outline of ǀGui Phonology". African Study Monographs, Suppl. 22, 101–124.
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