Re: Barba and Bestia: bH>b (dissimilation)

From: bmscotttg
Message: 64613
Date: 2009-08-06

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "stlatos" <stlatos@...> wrote:

[...]

> No, B also occurs in Fas (in New Guinea) and must be
> reconstructed for the common ancestor of Fas and (at least)
> most neighboring languages.

The only other language undoubtedly related to Fas is Baibai; even
the proposed relationship with the Kwomtari languages is doubtful.
And since F. /B/ apparently corresponds to B. /mb/, the obvious
reconstruction here is *Mb, a prenasalized stop (and the usual
source of the very rare bilabial trill, according to Ladefoged &
Maddieson).

Brian