Nasals and Nasalization in Borneo

Abstract

This paper discusses the phenomena of nasal harmony, nasal preplosion, and nasal postplosion in several languages spoken in Borneo. Unlike Indo-European languages, it is concluded that most Austronesian languages have onset-driven nasal harmony. Nasal preplosion is attested in several geographically discontinuous regions of Borneo, and among Austronesian languages elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Moreover, in some cases nasal preplosion can be inferred historically in languages which no longer have it. A global survey of similar nasalization processes is undertaken in the hope of shedding light on the mechanisms and motivation underlying nasal preplosion, and its possible triggering effects on nasal postplosion.