Appendix

Phonological ``Rules" that have applied in SST

These are phonological rules that a linguist would characterize as having been added to the grammar of LT, the application of which gives SST as the output.

1.

Palatalization: tt, nt $\longrightarrow$ [cc, nj] after high front vowels ([i, ai]) as in patitteen $\longrightarrow$ [padicceen] `I studied'. Found in all dialects, perfectly regular.

2.

Doubling of sonorants in CVC where V is short: kal $\longrightarrow$ kallu `stone' etc.

3.

CVC where V is long, add u; but not in all dialects: naalu `day' $\longrightarrow$ naa `day'.

4.

l in plurals, pronouns, verbs, deleted in final position, otherwise present.

5.

Nasalization of final [Vm, Vn] (but not [Vn])

6.

Lowering of [i, u] to [e, o] in sequence (C)...Ca, as in itam $\longrightarrow$ [edam] `place', utkkaaru $\longrightarrow$ [okkaaru] `sit'.

7.

deletion of l, r, l before stops, internally: utkkaarndeen $\longrightarrow$ okkaandeen `I sat' etc.

8.

general cluster reduction: utkaaru $\longrightarrow$ okkaaru `sit'; keetkireen $\longrightarrow$ keekkreen `I ask'.

9.

Monophthongisation of ai to e: in accusatives, noun endings, internally. Exception: in monosyllables, vai $\longrightarrow$ vayyi `put, place'.

10.

Intervocalic v and k deletion. Complicated, but examples: paarkkavillai $\longrightarrow$ [paakkale] `didn't see'; pookaveentum $\longrightarrow$ [pookanum] `must go', pookireen $\longrightarrow$ [pooreen] `I go'; kontuvaa $\longrightarrow$ [kondaa] `bring', etc.

11.

Intervocalic deletion of r, the retroflex frictionless continuant. This sound often is merged with [l], but in some cases it is deleted instead, resulting in compensatory lengthing: porudu $\longrightarrow$ [poodu] `time'; mukarndadu $\longrightarrow$ [moondadu] .

12.

Rounding: [i, e] $\longrightarrow$ [u, o] between Labial ...Retroflex consonant: ponnu `girl', potti `box', (v)uudu `house', pudi `like', but also: mida $\longrightarrow$ [moda] `float', piranteen $\longrightarrow$ [porandeen] `I was born'. Some of these may be more acceptable than others.

Optional or Stigmatized Developments.

1.

Already described: NC cluster reduction is variable, and somewhat stigmatized veenum `want, need' is okay, but *veenaam `don't want, not needed' is not; kontaandeen (kontuvandeen) `I brought' is okay, *konnaandeen `ibid.' is not.

2.

Rounding of vowels before retroflex /l/ in Br. dialect: niingo `you pl.', avango `they'.

3.

Metathesis: Br dialect: enakku $\longrightarrow$ [neekku] `to me'; unakku $\longrightarrow$ [onakku] $\longrightarrow$ [nookku] `to you' etc.

4.

Other dialects: merge [l], [d], [r]; some merge [n] and [n]. Retroflexion is lost except in [t] (vs. [ t])

5.

Unrounding of [u] when nasalized: Coimbatore: veenum `want, need' $\longrightarrow$ [veeni], etc.