Reduplicative Identity in Chaha

The article discusses the process of continuant dissimilation that derives [k] from /x/ in Chaha (a Western Gurage language of Ethiopia) and its implications for reduplicative identity. It is argued that two correspondence relations are crucial to an adequate analysis of the process: base-reduplicant correspondence and output-output correspondence. Chaha provides a clear instance of “back copy” in which the output of reduplication triggers a change in the base.