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On one more source of Old Japanese i 2

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Abstract

The goal of this article is to provide further and systematic evidence for an idea suggested only in passing that the Old Japanese vowel i 2 derives diachronically not only from *əy and *uy, as traditionally believed, but also from *oy. This solution proves to be a key to solving some puzzles in the phonological history of a number of common Old Japanese words.

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References

Primary sources

  1. Harima Fudoki, ca. 713 AD

  2. Kojiki, 712 AD

  3. Kōtai Jingū Gisiki chō, 804 AD

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  5. Kinkafu, eighth century AD

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Correspondence to Alexander Vovin.

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This paper is dedicated to the memory of Samuel E. Martin.

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Vovin, A. On one more source of Old Japanese i 2 . J East Asian Linguist 20, 219–228 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10831-011-9075-2

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