Labial–retroflex consonant explained

Labial–retroflex consonants are doubly articulated consonants that are co-articulated at the lips and with the front part or underside of the tongue against the palate. They are only attested in Yélî Dnye, an unclassified language of Rossel Island, Papua New Guinea.[1] [2]

Types

Several labial–retroflex consonants are attested in Yélî Dnye, an unclassified language of Rossel Island, Papua New Guinea. These include a voiceless plosive pronounced as //ʈ͡p//, a nasal pronounced as //ɳ͡m//, prenasalized pronounced as //ɳ͡mɖ͡b// (also analyzed as pronounced as //ɳ͡mʈ͡p// but phonetically voiced), and postnasalized pronounced as //ʈ͡pɳ͡m//, all or most of which may also occur palatalized: pronounced as //ʈ͡pʲ/, /ɳ͡mʲ/, /ʈ͡pɳ͡mʲ// and possibly pronounced as //ɳ͡mɖ͡bʲ//. Yélî Dnye is unique in having this series of consonants.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Levinson . Stephen C. . A Grammar of Yélî Dnye: The Papuan Language of Rossel Island . 23 May 2022 . De Gruyter . 978-3-11-073385-3 . 10.1515/9783110733853 . 16 January 2023 . 249083265. 43.
  2. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/160609178.pdf