Buriat Grammar

Citation preview

BY

N IC H O L A S

N.

POPPE

RAMMAR

IN D IA N A UNIVERSITY P U B LIC A TIO N S Volume 2 of the Uralic and A ltaic Series

B U R IA T G R A M M A R

A M ERICAN COUNCIL OF LEA RN ED SOCIETIES R e s e a r ch and Studies in U ra lic and A lta ic Languages

P r o je c t No. 2

BURIAT GRAM M AR by N ich olas N. P oppe (U n iv e rsity o f W ashington)

The r e s e a r c h re p o r te d h e re in was p e r fo r m e d pursuant to co n tra ct betw een the United States O ffice of E du cation , D epartm ent of Health, E du cation , and W elfa re and the A m e rica n C ou n cil of L ea rn ed S o c ie tie s . June, I960

Buriat Grammar Nicholas N. Poppe

IN D IA N A

UNIVERSITY

PUBLICATIONS

U R A LIC A N D A L T A IC SERIES, V O L

2

Published by

Indiana University • Bloomington Mouton & C o.

•

The Hague, The Netherlands I960

IN D IA N A

U N IV E R S IT Y G ra d u a te

U R A L IC

AND

P U B L IC A T IO N S

S ch ool

A L T A IC

Volume

S E R IE S

2

C opyright © I960 by Indiana U n iversity No part of this book m ay be re p ro d u ce d in any fo r m , b y prin t, photoprint, m ic r o film , o r any oth er m eans without the p e r m is s io n o f the p u b lish ers

C o m p o se d at the Indiana U n iversity R e s e a r c h C en ter in A n th rop olog y, F o lk lo r e , and L in g u istics

A ll o r d e r s fr o m the United States o f A m e r ic a and fr o m Canada should be a d d r e s s e d to the E d ito r , U ra lic and A lta ic S e r ie s , R ayl H ouse, Indiana U n iv e rs ity , B loom in g ton , IndLiana O rd e rs fr o m a ll oth er co u n trie s should be sent to M outon & C o ., P u b lis h e r s , The Hague, The N etherlands

L ib r a r y o f C o n g re s s C atalog C ard N um ber: 6 0 -63740 P rin ted in the United States o f A m e r ic a

T A B L E OF CONTENTS

0. I N T R O D U C T I O N ..................................................................................

1

0 .0 . P u r p o s e an d s c o p e .....................................................................

1

0 .1 . B u r i a t ............................................................................................... 0 .1 1 . R e l a t i o n s h i p s .................................................................. 0 .1 2 . D i a l e c t s ...............................................................................

1 1 1

0 .2 . T y p o g r a p h ic a l s ig n s an d t r a n s c r i p t i o n s .......................

2

0 .3 . A c k n o w le d g e m e n t s .....................................................................

2

1. P H O N O L O G Y .........................................................................................

5

1 .1 . T h e p h o n e m e s ...............................................................................

5

1 .2 . V o w e l s ...............................................................................................

5

1 .3 . C o n s o n a n t s ......................................................................................

9

1 .4 . O c c u r r e n c e o f p h o n e m e s ........................................................ 1 .4 1 . S y l l a b l e ............................................................................... 1 .4 2 . O c c u r r e n c e o f v o w e l s ................................................. 1 .4 3 . O c c u r r e n c e o f c o n s o n a n t s ........................................

13 13 15 15

1 .5 . J u n c t u r e ............................................................................................ 1 .5 1 . O p en j u n c t u r e .................................................................. 1 .5 2 . C lo s e j u n c t u r e .................................................................. 1 .5 3 . S t r e s s .................................................................................. 1 .5 4 . C o m p o u n d j u n c t u r e ........................................................

19 19 19 19 19

1 .6 . M o r p h o p h o n e m i c s ..................................................................... 1 .6 1 . S t e m - fin a l v o w e l +s u ffi x - in it ia l v o w e l ................ 1 .6 2 . V o c a l ic h a r m o n y ........................................................... 1 .6 2 1 . S u f f i x e s ............................................................... 1 .6 3 . In te r n a l s a n d h i ...............................................................

20 20 21 21 25

1 .7 . O r t h o g r a p h ic a l r e p r e s e n t a t io n o f p h o n o m e s ............. 1 .7 1 . O f f ic i a l a l p h a b e t ...........................................................

26 26

v

O r t h o g r a p h ic a l r e p r e s e n ta tio n , o f p h o n e m e s (C o n tin u e d ) 1 .7 2 . V o w e l s .................................................................................. 28 1 .7 3 . C o n s o n a n t s ......................................................................... 30 2. I N F L E C T I O N .........................................................................................

32

2 .1 . S u b sta n tiv e i n f l e c t i o n .............................................................. 2 .1 1 . U se o f tw o s t e m s ........................................................... 2 .1 2 . U se o f the n o m in a tiv e s t e m .................................... 2 .1 3 . U se o f th e o b liq u e s t e m .............................................. 2 .1 4 . D e r iv a tio n a l s u f f i x e s ................................................. 2 .1 5 . P u r e - r e l a t i o n a l s u ffix e s and p o s t p o s itio n s . . 2 .1 6 . P o s s e s s i v e s u f f i x e s ..................................................... 2 .1 7 . P r e d ic a t i v e s u f f i x e s .....................................................

32 33 33 33 34 35 42 48

2 .2 . P r o n o u n i n f l e c t i o n ..................................................................... 2 .2 1 . P e r s o n a l p r o n o u n s ........................................................ 2 .2 2 . D e m o n s tr a tiv e p r o n o u n s ...........................................

49 50 53

2 .3 . V e r b 2 .3 0 . 2 .3 1 . 2 .3 2 . 2 .3 3 .

55 55 56 56 57 57 58 58 59 59 60 61 61 61 62 64 64 65 66 67 68

i n f l e c t i o n ............................................................................ G e n e r a l r e m a r k s ........................................................... T e n s e s i g n s .................................................................. . P e r s o n a l e n d i n g s ........................................................... F in it e f o r m s ..................................................................... 2 .3 3 1 . P r e s e n t ............................................................... 2 .3 3 2 . P a s t ........................................................................ 2 .3 3 3 . F u t u r e .................................................................. 2 .3 3 4 . O p t a t i v e ............................................................... 2 .3 3 5 . P r e s e n t i m p e r a t i v e ........................................ 2 .3 3 6 . F u tu re i m p e r a t i v e ........................................ 2 .3 4 . V e r b a l n o u n s ..................................................................... 2 .3 4 0 . G e n e r a l r e m a r k s ........................................... 2 .3 4 1 . N oun o f the f u t u r e ................................... 2 .3 4 2 . N oun o f th e i m p e r f e c t .......................... 2 .3 4 3 . N ou n o f th e p a s s i v e ................................ 2 .3 4 4 . N oun o f th e d ista n t p a s t ....................... 2 .3 4 5 . N oun o f th e p e r f e c t ................................ 2 .3 4 6 . F i r s t n ou n o f th e p r e s e n t ........................... 2 .3 4 7 . S e c o n d n ou n o f th e p r e s e n t ....................... 2 .3 4 8 . F r e q u e n ta t iv e n o u n ........................................

vi

2 .3 5 . G e ru n d s 2 .3 5 0 . 2 .3 5 1 . 2 .3 5 2. 2 .3 5 3 . 2 .3 5 4 . 2 .3 5 5 . 2 .3 5 6 . 2 .3 5 7 . 2 .3 5 8 . 2 .3 5 9 . 2 .3 5 1 0 .

3.

4.

............................................................................... G e n e r a l r e m a r k s .......................................... M o d a l g e r u n d ................................................ I m p e r f e c t iv e g e r u n d ................................... P e r f e c t i v e g e r u n d ....................................... C o n d itio n a l g e r u n d ....................................... L im it a t iv e g e r u n d ....................................... P r e c e d e n t g e r u n d ....................................... S u c c e s s iv e g e r u n d ....................................... C on tin u ou s g e r u n d ....................................... C o n c o m ita n t g e r u n d .................................... R e p la c e m e n t g e r u n d ................................

69 69 70 70 71 71 71 71 72 72 72 73

2 .3 6 . A u x ilia r y , d e f e c t i v e , in t e r r o g a t iv e , an d d e ­ m o n s t r a t iv e v e r b s ........................................................

73

F O R M A N D F U N C T IO N A L C L A S S E S .....................................

75

3 .1 . N o u n s ............................................................................................... 3 .1 1 . S u b s t a n t i v e s ..................................................................... 3 .1 2 . A d j e c t i v e s .........................................................................

75 75 76

3 .2 . P r o n o u n s .........................................................................................

79

3 .3 . V e r b s ...............................................................................................

79

3 .4 . A d v e r b s ............................................................................................

79

3 .5 . P o s t p o s i t i o n s ...............................................................................

80

3 .6 . C o n j u n c t i o n s ..................................................................................

82

3 .7 . P a r t i c l e s .........................................................................................

83

W O R D -F O R M A T I O N ..........................................................................

86

4 .0 . I n t r o d u c t o r y r e m a r k s .................................................................

86

4 .1 . N o u n s ................................................................................................ 4 .1 1 . N ou n s f r o m n o u n s ........................................................ 4 .1 2 . N ou n s f r o m p r o n o u n s ................................................. 4 .1 3 . N ou n s f r o m v e r b s ........................................................ 4 .1 4 . C o m p o u n d n o u n s ...........................................................

86 86 88 88 91

Vii

4 .2 . A d j e c t i v e s ...................................................................................... 4 .2 1 . A d je c t iv e s f r o m n oun s an d a d j e c t i v e s ............ 4 .2 2 . A d je c t iv e s f r o m a d v e r b s ......................................... 4 .2 3 . A d je c t iv e s f r o m n u m e r a l s ...................................... 4 .2 4 . A d je c t iv e s f r o m v e r b s ............................................ 4 .2 5 . C o m p o u n d a d j e c t i v e s .................................................

92 92 94 94 95 96

4 .3 . V e r b s ............................................................................................... 4 .3 1 . V e r b s f r o m n ou n s and a d j e c t i v e s ...................... 4 .3 2 . V e r b s f r o m p a r t i c l e s ................................................ 4 .3 3 . V e r b s f r o m v e r b s .......................................................

97 97 98 99

4 .3 3 1 . C a u s a tiv e v e r b s .......................................... 4 .3 3 2 . P a s s iv e v e r b s ............................................. 4 .3 3 3 . M e d iu m v e r b s ............................................. 4 .3 3 4 . R e c i p r o c a l v e r b s ...................................... 4 .3 3 5 . C o o p e r a t iv e v e r b s ....................................... 4 .3 3 6 . P e r f e c t i v e v e r b s .......................................... 4 .3 3 7 . I te r a t iv e v e r b s ............................................. 4 .3 3 8 . F r e q u e n ta t iv e v e r b s ................................ 4 .3 3 9 . V e r b s o f in t e r r u p t e d a c t i o n ................... 4 .3 3 1 0 . D im in u tiv e v e r b s ....................................... 4 .3 3 1 1 . C a r e s s iv e v e r b s .......................................... 4 .3 4 . C o m p o u n d v e r b s ............................................................ 4 .3 4 1 . A d v e r b ia l and g e r u n d ia l c o m p o u n d s . 4 .3 4 2 . V e r b a l-n o u n c o m p o u n d s ..........................

99 100 100 100 101 101 101 101 101 101 102 102 102 103

4 .4 . A d v e r b s ............................................................................................ 4 .4 1 . A d v e r b s f r o m n o u n s ..................................................... 4 .4 2 . A d v e r b s f r o m a d j e c t i v e s ........................................... 4 .4 3 . A d v e r b s f r o m n u m e r a l s ........................................... 4 .4 4 . A d v e r b s f r o m a d v e r b s .............................................. 4 .4 5 . C o m p o u n d a d v e r b s ........................................................

104 104 104 104 105 105

5. P H R A S E S T R U C T U R E .....................................................................

107

5 .0 . C la s s if ic a t i o n o f p h r a s e s ........................................................ 5 .0 1 . C o o r d in a te p h r a s e s ..................................................... 5 .0 2 . C o n t r a s t iv e p h r a s e s .....................................................

107 107 108

5 .1 . N o m in a l p h r a s e s ......................................................................... 5 .1 1 . A t t r ib u t e - h e a d ..................................................................

108 109

v iii

5 .2 . A d je c t iv a l p h r a s e s .....................................................................

Ill

5 .3 . P r o n o m in a l p h r a s e s ..................................................................

112

5 .4 . A d v e r b ia l p h r a s e s .....................................................................

112

5 .5 . V e r b a l p h r a s e s ............................................................................ 5 .5 1 . E q u a tio n a l c o m p l e m e n t s ........................................... 5 .5 2 . D i r e c t o b je c t c o m p l e m e n t ........................................ 5 .5 3 . A d v e r b ia l c o m p l e m e n t ..............................................

113 113 114 115

6. C L A U S E -S T R U C T U R E .....................................................................

119

6 .1 . F u ll c l a u s e s .................................................................................. 6 .1 1 . P r e d i c a t e ............................................................................ 6 .1 2 . S u b j e c t .................................................................................. 6 .1 3 . A g r e e m e n t .........................................................................

119 119 120 123

6 .2 . In to n a tio n a n d c l a u s e - s t r u c t u r e ........................................ 6 .2 1 . D e c la r a t iv e c l a u s e s ..................................................... 6 .2 2 . I n t e r r o g a t iv e c l a u s e s ................................................. 6 .2 3 . E x c la m a t o r y c l a u s e s .................................................

124 124 125 126

6 .3 . M in o r c l a u s e s ...............................................................................

126

6 .4 . C o m b in a tio n o f c l a u s e s ........................................................... 6 .4 1 . C o o r d in a te c l a u s e s . ..................................................... 6 .4 2 . S u b o rd in a te c l a u s e s .....................................................

126 126 128

ix

0.

0 .0 .

IN T R O D U C T IO N

P u r p o s e and s c o p e .

T h e p r e s e n t b o o k is d e s ig n e d a s a d e s c r ip t iv e g r a m m a r o f L i t e r a r y o r S ta n d a rd B u r ia t f o r lin g u is t s . It is a ls o h o p e d that it c a n b e u s e d f o r te a c h in g p u r p o s e s . T h e a n a ly s is h a s b e e n p la c e d on a p h o n e m ic b a s is . A ll B u ria t e x a m p le s a r e g iv e n in p h o n e m ic t r a n s c r ip t io n and m u ch a tten tion h as b e e n p a id to m o r p h o p h o n e m ic a n a ly s is . T h e la n g u a g e t r e a t e d is S ta n d a rd B u r ia t, i. e ., th e la n ­ g u a ge o f B u r ia t lit e r a t u r e and p r e s s w h ich is b a s e d on the K h o r i d ia le c t . It is v e r y c l o s e to C o llo q u ia l K h o r i but d if fe r s f r o m the la t t e r in the sa m e m a n n e r as any li t e r a r y la n g u a g e d if f e r s f r o m th e c o ll o q u ia l it is b a s e d on. 0 .1 . B u r ia t is sp o k e n m a in ly in the A u to n o m o u s B u ria t S o v ie t R e p u b lic , in E a s t S ib e r ia , w h ich p r i o r t o W o r ld W a r II w a s c a l l e d th e B u r ia t -M o n g o lia n A u to n o m o u s S o v ie t R e p u b lic , a n d in the a d ja c e n t p a r ts o f th e Irk u tsk and C h ita r e g io n s as w e l l as in v a r io u s p a r ts o f the M o n g o lia n P e o p le s R e p u b lic (O u te r M o n g o lia ) w h e r e th e r e a r e e m ig r a n t s f r o m E a s t S ib e r ia . T h e r e a r e a ls o B u r ia ts in M a n c h u r ia . T h e to t a l n u m b e r o f s p e a k e r s o f B u ria t a m o u n ts to 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 p e r s o n s , th e m a j o r it y liv in g in the A u to n o m o u s B u r ia t S o v ie t R e p u b lic . 0 .1 1 . B u r ia t b e lo n g s to th e M o n g o lia n la n g u a g e g r o u p , b e in g th e o n ly r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f th e la t t e r in S ib e r ia . It is c l o s e l y r e la t e d to K h a lk h a , sp o k e n in O u te r M o n g o lia , to the M o n g o lia n d ia le c t s sp o k e n in In n e r M o n g o lia and M a n c h u r ia , an d to K a lm u c k , sp o k e n in the L o w e r V o lg a r e g io n , in th e s o c a ll e d A u to n o m o u s K a lm u c k S o v ie t R e p u b lic , in th e E u r o p e a n p a r t o f th e USSR. 0 .1 2 . B u ria t is d iv id e d in to te n m a in d ia le c t s : E k h ir it B u lg a t, B okh a n , A la r , T un ka, N i2 n e u d in sk , B a r g u z in , K h o r i, T s o n g o l, S a rtu l, and (in M a n ch u ria ) B a r g u -B u r ia t . T h e d ia le c ts

B u r ia t G r a m m a r

2

d if fe r f r o m e a c h o th e r m a in ly in p h o n e t ic s an d v o c a b u la r y , the m o r p h o lo g i c a l and s y n t a c t ic a l fe a t u r e s b e in g a lm o s t u n ifo r m in th e w h o le lin g u is t ic a r e a . T h e d ia le c t s o f th e T s o n g o l and S a rtu l, w h o liv e in th e S e le n g a v a ll e y , n e a r th e f r o n t i e r o f the M o n g o lia n P e o p le s R e p u b lic , and th e B a r g u - B u r ia t d ia le c t in n o r th w e s t e r n M a n ch u r ia a r e m o r e s t r o n g ly d iffe r e n t ia t e d than the o th e r d ia l e c t s . T h e f o r m e r tw o g r o u p s (tw o d iffe r e n t t r i b e s in th e p a st) a r e d e s c e n d a n ts o f M o n g o ls w h o im m ig r a t e d f r o m O u ter M o n g o lia in the s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , t h e ir d ia le c t s d is ­ p la y in g m a n y fe a t u r e s c o m m o n w ith K h a lk h a . T h e s p e e c h o f th e B a r g u - B u r ia t s u n d e rw e n t a s tr o n g in flu e n c e f r o m th e s u r ­ ro u n d in g M o n g o lia n d ia le c t s sp o k e n in M a n c h u r ia . T h e sta n d a rd la n g u a g e is b a s e d on th e s p e e c h o f th e K h o r i B u r ia ts , th e m o s t n u m e r o u s and c u lt u r a lly m o s t im p o r ta n t g ro u p w h o liv e in T r a n s b a ik a lia , i . e . , e a s t o f L a k e B a ik a l, in th e e a s t e r n h a lf o f the B u r ia t R e p u b lic . U n til 1931, th e B u r ia ts u s e d th e v e r t i c a l M o n g o lia n s c r ip t and th e M o n g o lia n b o o k la n g u a g e , th e s o - c a l l e d W r itte n M o n ­ g o lia n , w h ich d if fe r e d c o n s id e r a b ly f r o m s p o k e n B u r ia t. In 1931 th e L a tin a lp h a b e t and a n ew l i t e r a r y la n g u a g e , b a s e d on th e T s o n g o l a n d S a rtu l d ia le c t s , w e r e in t r o d u c e d . T h e la t t e r d id n ot la s t lo n g and, in 1937, a m o d ifie d C y r i l l i c a lp h a b e t r e ­ p la c e d th e L a tin s c r ip t . S im u lta n e o u s ly , th e K h o r i d ia le c t w a s e le v a t e d to th e ra n k o f th e s ta n d a rd la n g u a g e . 0 .2 . T h e t y p o g r a p h ic a l s ig n s and the t r a n s c r ip t io n s a r e e x p la in e d in fr a . P h o n e m ic t r a n s c r ip t io n s a r e g iv e n w ith in slan t lin e s / / ; p h o n e tic t r a n s c r ip t io n s u s e d in M o n g o lia n stu d ­ ie s a r e w ith in s q u a r e b r a c k e t s [ ]. T h e c o n v e n t io n a l o r t h o g ­ ra p h y is g iv e n in t r a n s lit e r a t io n in i t a l i c s . 0 .3 .

A c k n o w le d g m e n ts a r e due to :

1. P r o f . G . D. S a n S e je v , G r a m m a tik a B u r a t -m o n g o ls k o g o ja z y k a , M o s k v a -L e n in g r a d , 1941; 2. K . M . C e r e m is o v , K r a t k ii g r a m m a t i£ e s k ii s p r a v o 2 n ik p o b u r a t -m o n g o ls k o m u ja z y k u : B u r a t - m o n g o ls k o - r u s s k ii s lo v a r , s o s t a v i l K . M . C e r e m is o v , p o d r e d a k c ie i C . B . C y d e n d a m b a je v a , M o s k v a , 1951, p p . 7 7 1 -8 5 2 ; 3. M . M . I m e x e n o v , B u r a t -m o n g o l x e le n e i g ra m m a tik a ,^ I Cast, F o n e tik e b a m o r f o l o g i , D o lo o n z e le i, dunda h u r g u u liin 5 b a 6 k la s s t a y z e x e ucSebnik, U la n -U d e , 1954;

In tr o d u c tio n

3

S / / 4. T . A . B e r t a g a je v , M . M . I m e x e n o v , D. D. D u g a r -2 a b o n , B u r a t -m o n g o l x e le n e i g r a m m a t ik a , II c a s t , S in ta k s is , D o lo o n g e le i b a dunda h u r g u u liin 6 -7 k la s s u u d ta y z e x e uC ebnik, U la n -U d e , 1954; 5 . 2 . B . B a ld a n S a b on , A . A . A ju r z a n a in , B u r a t -m o n g o l x e le n e i s in t a k s is e i ba p u n k tu a ciin u p ra Z n e n in y y d e i s b o r n ik , D o lo o n Z e le i b a dunda h u rg u u liin 6 -7 k la s s u u d ta x e r e g le x e , U la n -U d e , 1954; 6. W illia m M . A u s tin , G o m b o ja b H an gin , U r gunge O n on , M o n g o l R e a d e r , W a sh in g to n , D. C ., 1956;

A

7. R o b e r t A . H a ll, J r ., H u n g a ria n G r a m m a r , S u p p le m e n t to L a n g u a g e , J o u r n a l o f th e L in g u is t ic S o c ie t y o f A m e r i c a , v o l . 20, n o . 4, O c t o b e r - D e c e m b e r 1944, in w h ic h H u n g a ria n , a la n g u a g e s t r u c t u r a lly c l o s e to B u r ia t, is r e p r e s e n t e d in a c l e a r an d c o n ­ v e n ie n t m a n n e r . M a n y p h e n o m e n a in the B u r ia t la n g u a g e , in p r in c ip l e id e n t ic a l w ith t h o s e in H u n g a ria n , h a v e b e e n d is c u s s e d in th e p r e s e n t g r a m m a r in th e s a m e w a y a s H a ll d is c u s s e s H u n g a ria n , b e c a u s e s o m e fo r m u la t io n s fo u n d in h is b o o k a r e m u ta tis m u ta n d is a p p lic a b le t o B u r ia t. 8. T h e a u th o r ’ s b o o k s on B u r ia t: A la r s k ii g o v o r , C a s t p e r v a ja , L e n in g r a d , 1930, and G r a m m a tik a b u r a t -m o n g o ls k o g o ja z y k a , M o s k v a -L e n in g r a d , 1938. 9. T h an k s a r e due t o P r o f e s s o r F a n g -k u e i L i o f th e F a r E a s t D e p a rtm e n t o f th e U n iv e r s it y o f W a sh in g to n f o r u s e fu l s u g g e s ­ tio n s w ith r e g a r d t o t r a n s c r ip t io n and tr e a t m e n t o f s o m e q u e s ­ tio n s o f m o r p h o p h o n e m ic s .

1.

1.1

PHONOLOGY

B u r ia t h as th e fo llo w in g p h o n e m e s : / i, e , a, o , u, 0,

h, x , j , w / . T h e a s t e r i s k d e n o te s p h o n e m e s w h ic h o c c u r o n ly in lo a n w o r d s , m o s t ly R u s s ia n . 1.2.

V o w e ls .

A ll v o w e l p h o n e m e s m a y o c c u r s in g le o r g e m in a te , the p h o n e m e / 0 / o c c u r r in g o n ly g e m in a te . A ll g e m in a te v o w e l p h o n e m e s a r e p h o n e t ic a lly lo n g : / a a / [a ]. B u r ia t a ls o h as d ip h th on g s w ith su b o r d in a te e le m e n t / i / [i] : / e i / [ e i ] . T h e r e is n o r e a s o n f o r r e g a r d in g th e B u r ia t d ip h th on gs a s c o m b in a t io n s o f a v o w e l p h o n e m e and the c o n s o ­ n ant / j / , b e c a u s e th e d ip h th on g s a c t e x a c t ly in the s a m e m a n ­ n e r as the g e m in a te v o w e l p h o n e m e s . T h e s in g le v o w e l p h o n e m e s , th e g e m in a te v o w e l p h o n e m e s , an d the d ip h th on gs w i ll be t r e a t e d s e p a r a t e ly . P honem es / i/

A llo p h o n e s [i]

(h ig h fr o n t u n ro u n d e d te n s e ): /n i d x e / “ e y e b r o w ” [n iD xs] (h ig h c e n t r a l u n ro u n d e d la x ; o c c u r s a ft e r / § / a n d / 2 / ) : / 2 i l / “ y e a r ”

/ii/

[i]

(h ig h fr o n t u n ro u n d e d te n s e ; o c c u r s o n ly a ft e r p a la t a liz e d c o n s o n a n t s ): / t i i § e / “ in that d ir e c t io n ” [tT§a]; / a m i i j i / “ the l i f e ” ( d i r e c t o b je c t ) [am ljx] (h ig h c e n t r a l u n ro u n d e d la x ; o c c u r s o n ly a ft e r u n p a la ta liz e d co n s o n a n ts ): / t i i g e e b i i / “ h a s it r e a ll y h a p p e n e d

B u r ia t G r a m m a r s o ? ” [ t 'l g e b l]; / a m i i j i / (d i r e c t o b je c t ) [a m ijj]

“ th e m o u th ”

(lo w e r h ig h c e n t r a l, r a t h e r b e tw e e n c e n t r a l and b a c k , la x ): / e m / “ m e d - ■ i c i n e ” [e m l; / e n e / “ t h i s ” [e n a l < < (fr o n t e d c e n t r a l, h ig h e r than the p r e c e d in g , t e n s e ): / e e m / “ s h o u l­ d e r ” ['em ]; / d e e r e / “ on , a b o v e ” [d e r a] (lo w b a c k ): / d a r a / “ p r e s s ! ” [dar-e]; /x a n a / “ w a l l” [x a n e] (fr o n t e d , p a la t a liz e d f o r m o f th e p r e c e d in g : r e s e m b l e s F r e n c h a in p a tte ; o c c u r s b e f o r e o r a ft e r p a l­ a t a liz e d c o n s o n a n t s ): / b a r i / “ s e iz e !” [b a rx ]; / a l i / “ w h ic h ? " [a ll] /d a a r a / “ f r e e z e ! ” [dar-e]; /x a a n a / “ w h e r e ? ” [x a n e ] (fr o n t e d , p a la t a liz e d f o r m o f the p r e v io u s ; o c c u r s o n ly a ft e r p a la ­ t a liz e d c o n s o n a n t s ); / b a r a a / “ he s e i z e d ” [b a r a ]; / x a n a a d a n / “ c o u g h ” [ Xan ad e] (m id b a c k ro u n d e d o p e n , la x ): /t o h o n / “ fa t, b u t t e r ” [tc o h e ]; / o d o n / “ s t a r ” [o d e ] (fr o n t e d , p a la t a liz e d f o r m o f th e p r e v io u s ; r e s e m b l e s F r e n c h o in h o m m e ; o c c u r s o n ly b e f o r e o r a ft e r p a la t a liz e d c o n s o n a n t s ): / m o r i n / “ h o r s e ” [ m o r j ; / n o d o n o n / “ la s t y e a r ” [n o d e n e ] (m id b a c k r o u n d e d o p e n ): / t o o h o n / “ d u s t” [t‘ "ohe] ; / o o d o n g / “ s h o r t ­ t a ile d ” [od-g]

7

P h o n o lo g y

/u /

[o ]

(fr o n t e d , p a la t a liz e d f o r m o f the p r e v io u s ; o c c u r s o n ly a ft e r p a la ­ t a l iz e d c o n s o n a n t s ): / m o r o o r / “ by m ean s of a h o r s e ” [m o ro r]

[u]