The phonology and morphology of Filomeno Mata Totonac

Table 2.3 Consonant features
Root
p t ts s c! s! tl " k x q m n l w y #
+consonantal x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
+sonorant x x x x x
+continuant +/- x +/- x +/- x x x x x x x
+nasal x x
Place
Labial x x x
Coronal x x x x x x x x x x
+anterior x x x x
+lateral x x x
Dorsal x x x x
+back x
Glottal x
Table 2.4 Vowel features
Root
i a u
+syllabic x x x
+high x x
+back x
+round x
+low x
2.2.2 Typological comparison. The FM Totonac phoneme inventory departs in several ways
from what is typical for Middle American languages. According to Yasugi’s (1995) survey of
the phonological systems of 174 languages spoken from the US-Mexico border to the south of
Panama, the preferred set of consonants in this area is p, t, ts, c%, k, $, s, s%, h, m, n, l, r, w and y
(Yasugi 1995:57). FM Totonac substitutes x for h and adds the lateral fricative #, the lateral
affricate tl, otherwise found only in Nahuatl and Tequistlatec (Yasugi 1995:62), and q, found in
! -!