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“Melt” and the labial causative in Gyalrongic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2025

Jesse P. Gates
Jesse P. Gates*
Affiliation:
School of Literature, Nankai University, Tianjin, China College of Foreign Languages, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
*
Email: stauskad@gmail.com
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Abstract

This brief article explores forms for the verb “melt” in Gyalrongic languages, demonstrating that they are cognates and not Tibetan loanwords. Clarification is made on a phonological rule in Japhug, where w- transforms to m- following a nasal, merging the nasal and w-. The article also suggests that the preinitial m- in Mazur Stau and Geshiza is a fossilized autive prefix, possibly resulting from independent changes or language contact. Additionally, Tangut, Bawang, and Puxi Stosde’s usage of a labial medial -w-/-v- for “melt” is hypothesized as an ancient labial causative infix.

Keywords

AnticausativizationAutive prefixGyalrongicLabial causative prefixMelt

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Article
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Bulletin of SOAS , First View , pp. 1 - 6
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of SOAS University of London.

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