Non-contiguous metathesis in Ik and its implications for East African etymology

In Ik, a Kuliak language of Uganda, non-contiguous metathesis occurs, in which the consonants of CVC(V), CVCVC, and longer roots, swap places. When this happens synchronically, the original un-metathesized form and the metathesized form differ only in terms of metathesis and remain synonymous. However, the language also contains a significant number of sets of semantically similar words characterized by the same type of metathesis plus other sound changes, which – even when (near-) synonymous – are fully lexicalized. On this basis, this talk makes the case that non-contiguous metathesis must have been a productive diachronic process in forming the Ik lexicon – from within Ik and/or through borrowing. And since some of these metathetic sets extend beyond Ik/Kuliak into other regional languages, a second claim of the talk is that metathesis must have been operative diachronically in languages of other phyla with which Ik/Kuliak has had contact. This would mean that, owing to its radical restructuring of words, metathesis has left highly salient and traceable clues to the historical interactions and influences among East African languages. After a brief survey of the typology of metathesis (including possible motivations), examples of Ik non-lexicalized and lexicalized metathesis will be presented, followed by several metathetic cognate sets that cross language family boundaries.

Note: This talk has not gone through a process of peer review, and findings should therefore be treated as preliminary and subject to change. Acknowledgement and citation: Schrock, Terrill. 2022. Non-contiguous metathesis in Ik and its implications for East African etymology. Talk given at the Rift Valley Network Webinar Series. 16/11/2022.