Notes on Some Turkic Vowel Developments
Journal name: Acta Orientalia
Original article title: Notes on Some Turkic Vowel Developments
ACTA ORIENTALIA is a journal focused on the study of Oriental languages, history, archaeology, and religions from ancient times to the present. The journal includes articles reviewed by a senior scholar in the relevant field.
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Julian Rentzsch
Acta Orientalia:
(Founded in 1922 and published annually)
Full text available for: Notes on Some Turkic Vowel Developments
Year: 2008 | Doi: 10.5617/ao.7371
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
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Summary of article contents:
Introduction
This article by Julian Rentzsch explores vowel developments specific to Turkic languages, with a focus on modern Standard Uyghur, where such phenomena are particularly prevalent. The analysis involves four types of vowel changes: i-umlaut and u-umlaut, which are forms of regressive vowel assimilation, as well as vowel raising and vowel lowering, which stem from reductions in vowel quantity. By comparing lexemes that exhibit these transformations across various Turkic languages—both modern and historical—the study reveals important insights into how these vowel changes have spread and manifested in different contexts.
I-Umlaut: A Notable Phenomenon
One significant concept discussed is i-umlaut, a vowel assimilation process prevalent in Uyghur. It primarily affects the low unrounded vowels /a/ and /e/ when they appear in initial open syllables. In the presence of a primary /i/ in the subsequent syllable, /a/ raises and fronted to a closed /e/, resulting in transformations such as Turkic "sariy" becoming "seriq" in Uyghur. The raising of /e/ occurs without the need for a following /i/, exemplified by the word "kerek" deriving from "kergek." Importantly, the i-umlaut process is fully productive, extending beyond lexical items to include derived forms, although it is inconsistent with loanwords.
Conclusion
In summary, Rentzsch's study underscores the dynamic and complex nature of vowel development across Turkic languages, particularly highlighting the distinctive role of i-umlaut in Uyghur phonology. While vowel harmonization processes primarily operate in a progressive manner in Turkic languages, the instances of regressive assimilation such as i-umlaut illustrate an intriguing aspect of phonological evolution. The findings contribute valuable knowledge to the study of Turkic linguistics and phonology, shedding light on vowel shifts and their broader implications across the Turkic language family.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What are the main vowel developments discussed in Turkic languages?
The main vowel developments in Turkic languages include i-umlaut, u-umlaut, vowel raising, and vowel lowering. These changes result from regressive vowel assimilations and reduction in vowel quantity, particularly evident in the Uyghur language.
What is i-umlaut in the context of Uyghur?
I-umlaut is a phenomenon in Uyghur where the low unrounded vowels /a/ and /e/ are raised and fronted in initial open syllables if followed by a primary /i/. This assimilation affects various lexical items and suffixations.
How does vowel assimilation differ between Turkic languages?
Turkic languages generally exhibit progressive vowel assimilations, including palatal and labial harmony. However, some varieties display regressive vowel assimilations, particularly evident in Kuvghur, highlighting inconsistency and variability across the Turkic language family.
Glossary definitions and references:
Oriental and Historical glossary list for “Notes on Some Turkic Vowel Developments�. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of History, Linguistics, Religion, Philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc.
1) Sound:
In Turkic languages, sound assimilations occur progressively, where preceding syllables influence subsequent ones. Typical sound harmonies, such as palatal and labial harmony, collectively known as vowel harmony, operate in this manner, affecting both vowels and consonants across various Turkic languages.
2) Language:
The discussion in the text revolves around vowel developments in several Turkic languages, focusing on phonological phenomena such as i-umlaut, u-umlaut, vowel raising, and lowering, using modern Standard Uyghur as a focal point due to its notable vowel system instability.
3) House:
[see source text or glossary: House]
4) Hali:
In Uyghur, the loanword 'hali,' meaning 'its state,' comes from Arabic and exemplifies the application and inconsistency of i-umlaut in borrowed words. The word contrasts with 'heli,' from the same Arabic root but reflecting 'a moment ago' with i-umlaut application.
5) Discussion:
[see source text or glossary: Discussion]
6) Etymology:
The text references etymology while comparing Uyghur lexemes with their cognates in other Turkic languages to understand the phonological changes over time, highlighting the historical and systematic vowel changes within the Turkic linguistic family.
7) Branch (Branches):
The Southeastern branch of Turkic languages is noted for exhibiting regressive vowel assimilations known as umlaut, contributing to distinct vowel developments seen in languages like modern Standard Uyghur.
8) Yellow:
In the i-umlaut example from Uyghur, the Turkic word 'sariy' for 'yellow' is transformed into 'seriq,' showing the phonological process where /a/ in the initial syllable is raised and fronted to /e/ under the influence of a primary /i/ in the subsequent syllable.
9) Sandal (Samdal):
The Turkic word 'caruq' meaning 'a rough, homemade boot' shows u-umlaut in its Uyghur form 'coruq' meaning 'sandal,' illustrating how vowel changes can alter both the phonetic characteristics and sometimes the semantics within Turkic languages.
10) Koman:
The word 'erik' appears in the Koman dialect as an example of how specific Turkic words undergo varying degrees of umlaut and other vowel changes in different Turkic languages, reflecting historical phonological processes.
11) Green:
Uyghur 'yesil' for 'green' originates from the Turkic 'yasil,' showing how i-umlaut affects initial vowels in certain conditions, resulting in the fronting and raising of vowels when followed by specific phonemes in subsequent syllables.
12) Heli:
Uyghur 'heli,' borrowed from Arabic 'hali,' demonstrates the application of i-umlaut in modern Uyghur, though inconsistently compared to 'hali.' This difference in umlaut application highlights phonological variations among borrowed lexical items.