Metaphony, umlaut and ǃXóõ A-raising

Abstract

Metaphony and umlaut are well-studied assimilations, and metaphony, in particular, has attracted a range of different analyses. This article casts both in the framework of Element Theory, but as quite distinct processes. We then study the complex assimilation pattern of the Khoisan language ǃXóõ, between the first vowel of its bimoraic words and the second vowel, also affected by the consonants in the word. The most recent analysis, by Lionnet, argues that probabilistic and cumulative gradient effects are required to account for this process. We show that the process can be seen as formally a combination of umlaut and metaphony. Moreover, our analysis explains other assimilations and predicts a new assimilation, which is confirmed by recent data.