Reconstruction of the consonantal system of Proto-Yuman from California and the Colorado River Delta

This paper presents a partial reconstruction of the inventory of phonological segments of Proto-Deltacalifornian, i.e., the hypothetical common ancestor of the languages of the Delta-California branch of the Yuman family. It is concerned with the consonantal segments of the protolanguage, based on a revised version of the comparative method. In addition to formulating a protosystem of consonants, the comparison between three languages of this Yuman sub-group suggests the necessity to reconsider the kind and degree of relationship among their members. Original received: 2014/05/15 Review sent to author: 2014/07/04 Accepted: 2014/08/01