Positional Neutralization - Linguistics - University of California ...

f. Kandahari Pashto (Elfenbein 1997): final unstressed /e:/, /o:/ -> [i], [u], except,
apparently, when this merger would collapse certain grammatical distinctions, such as
that between the verbal suffixes pres2sg. -e and 3sg. -i 110 . Neutralizing.
g. Muinane (Witotoan, Walton and Walton 1967): Word-final /a/ is sometimes realized
as schwa by some speakers. Non-neutralizing.
h. Guajiro (Arawakan, Mansen 1967): variable raising of word-final /a/ to schwa. Non-
neutralizing.
i. Lunda (Larry Hyman, p.c.): Three vowels /i, u, a/ word-finally, five elsewhere.
Neutralizing.
j. Nanai (Tungusic, Avrorin 1959, Li 1996): The Nanai vowel system is not
unambiguously described. Li (1996) notes that he may be idealizing to a prior historical
stage when he characterizes it as having /i, u, , , , a/, in which the latter three are
RTR, produced with a constricted pharynx as in some other Tungusic languages. He
assumes that the RTR distinction is still operative due to the fact that the harmony system
110 See Crosswhite (2001) for other instances of morphological blocking of reduction processes.
249