A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Hlai

In A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Hlai, Norquest presents a reconstruction of Proto-Hlai based on data from twelve Hlai languages spoken on Hainan, China. This reconstruction includes chapters on both the Proto-Hlai initials and rimes, and original sesquisyllabic forms are shown to be necessary to account for the reflexes between the daughter languages. A comparison is made between Proto-Hlai and Proto-Tai, and a preliminary reconstruction of Proto Southern Kra-Dai (the immediate ancestor of Proto-Hlai) is performed. When this is compared with Proto-Hlai, it is shown that several important sound changes occurred between Pre-Hlai and Proto-Hlai. The aberrant Jiamao language is also examined, focusing on its complex contact relationships with other Hlai languages.

About the author

Peter K. Norquest, Ph.D. (2007), University of Arizona, is a post-doctoral researcher affiliated with that university. His research focuses upon the Kra-Dai and Austronesian language phyla of Southeast Asia, and he has published various historical linguistics papers on both.

Product details

• Authors: Peter Norquest
• Publisher: Brill
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.10.2015
• EAN: 9789004300163
• ISBN: 978-90-04-30016-3
• No. of pages: 380
• Dimensions: 164 mm x 241 mm x 27 mm
• Weight: 721 g
• Series: Languages of Asia
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics