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The forgotten mid vowels

Reconstructing the history of the proto-pano vowel system

ORCiD logo with link | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú | Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLeipzig
ORCiD logo with link | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú | Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLeipzig
ORCiD logo with link | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú | Chapman University
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Abstract
This study re-examines the phonological inventory of Proto-Pano, challenging the prevailing view that it had only four oral vowels. Through a comparative analysis of 23 contemporary Pano languages/varieties, we reconstruct a Proto-Pano system with two additional mid vowels, proposing a six-vowel inventory. This finding diverges from all previous reconstructions, which overlooked historically significant distributional differences between mid vowels in Northern Pano languages, Kakataibo, and Kaxarari. We argue that Pano mid vowels exhibit both conservative and innovative traits, questioning the assumption that all Pano mid vowels are innovations. Our analysis highlights the role of merger in shaping Pano phonological diversity, supporting a six-vowel reconstruction as a more accurate reflection of the comparative data. This revised perspective underscores the importance of carefully analyzing sound correspondence patterns and offers new insights into the historical evolution and internal classification of the Pano language family. Additionally, it calls for a thorough revision of previous Proto-Pano reconstructions and opens promising avenues for future research on the Pano-Takana stock.
Zusammenfassung
Diese Studie untersucht das Lautinventar der Rekonstruktion für Proto-Pano neu und stellt die vorherrschende Ansicht in Frage, dass es nur vier orale Vokale besaß. Durch eine vergleichende Analyse von 22 modernen Pano-Sprachen rekonstruieren wir ein Proto-Pano-Lautsystem mit zwei zusätzlichen mittleren Vokalen und schlagen somit ein sechs-Vokal-Inventar vor. Diese Erkenntnis weicht von allen bisherigen Rekonstruktionen ab, die historisch bedeutsame Unterschiede zwischen mittleren Vokalen in den nördlichen Pano-Sprachen sowie in Kakataibo und Kaxarari übersehen haben. Wir argumentieren, dass mittlere Vokale in diesen Sprachen sowohl konservative als auch innovative Merkmale aufweisen, was die Annahme in Frage stellt, dass alle Pano-Mittellautvokale Innovationen sind. Unsere Analyse hebt die Rolle von Merge und Split bei der Entwicklung der phonologischen Vielfalt der Pano-Sprachen hervor und unterstützt eine sechs-Vokal-Rekonstruktion als genauere Darstellung der vergleichenden Daten. Diese überarbeitete Perspektive betont die Bedeutung einer sorgfältigen Analyse von Lautentsprechungsmustern und bietet neue Einblicke in die historische Entwicklung und interne Klassifikation der Pano-Sprachfamilie. Darüber hinaus plädiert sie für eine gründliche Überprüfung früherer Proto-Pano-Rekonstruktionen und eröffnet vielversprechende Perspektiven für zukünftige Forschungen zum Pano-Takana-Sprachstamm.
Résumé
Cette étude réexamine l’inventaire des sons de la reconstruction du Proto-pano et remet en question l’opinion dominante selon laquelle il ne comptait que quatre voyelles orales. Grâce à une analyse comparative de 22 langues pano modernes, nous reconstruisons un système de sons Proto-pano avec deux voyelles centrales supplémentaires et proposons ainsi un inventaire de six voyelles. Cette découverte diffère de toutes les reconstructions précédentes, qui ont négligé les différences historiquement significatives entre les voyelles centrales dans les langues pano du nord ainsi que dans le kakataibo et le kaxarari. Nous soutenons que les voyelles centrales de ces langues présentent à la fois des caractéristiques conservatrices et innovantes, ce qui remet en question l’hypothèse selon laquelle toutes les voyelles centrales pano sont innovantes. Notre analyse met en évidence le rôle de la fusion et de la division dans le développement de la diversité phonologique des langues pano et soutient une reconstruction à six voyelles comme représentation plus précise des données comparatives. Cette perspective révisée souligne l’importance d’une analyse minutieuse des modèles de correspondance phonétique et offre de nouvelles perspectives sur l’évolution historique et la classification interne de la famille des langues pano. En outre, elle plaide en faveur d’un examen approfondi des reconstructions Proto-pano antérieures et ouvre des perspectives prometteuses pour les recherches futures sur la branche des langues pano-takana.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The Pano language family
  • 3.Data
  • 4.Proto-Pano had six oral vowels
    • 4.1Innovative Pano mid vowels: Kakataibo and Kaxarari
    • 4.2Conservative Pano mid vowels
  • 5.Further reflections of this study
    • 5.1Methodological implications of Proto-Pano mid vowels for Proto-Pano-Takana
    • 5.2A final note on sporadic vowel changes in Pano
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Author contributions
  • Notes
  • Author queries
  • References
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