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Gaju is considered more linguistically [[w:conservative (linguistics)|innovative]] than Rttirri, having undergone many phonological and grammatical changes from Proto-South-Rttirrian that did not occur in Rttirri. The main such changes are summarized here: | Gaju is considered more linguistically [[w:conservative (linguistics)|innovative]] than Rttirri, having undergone many phonological and grammatical changes from Proto-South-Rttirrian that did not occur in Rttirri. The main such changes are summarized here: | ||
* The loss of the retroflex series. */ʈ ɖ ɳ/ merged into /t d n/, while */ | * The loss of the retroflex series. */ʈ ɖ ɳ/ merged into /t d n/, while */ɻ/ became [w] and */ɽ/ merged with onset */ʟ/ as [l]. However, the original three vowels */a i u/ had developed allophones after retroflex consonants, and these became independent phonemes: /ɑ e o/. */ɑ/ would later raise and round to /ɔ/. | ||
* Gradual development of a [[w:tone (linguistics)|tone]] system. First, coda */ʟ/ disappeared and left a low tone on the preceding vowel, all vowels took a low tone before stops, and various grammatical particles and affixes took low tones—other syllables took high tones. From there, further phonological elision and grammaticalization of morphemes led to a contour tone system. | * Gradual development of a [[w:tone (linguistics)|tone]] system. First, coda */ʟ/ disappeared and left a low tone on the preceding vowel, all vowels took a low tone before stops, and various grammatical particles and affixes took low tones—other syllables took high tones. From there, further phonological elision and grammaticalization of morphemes led to a contour tone system. | ||
* The gradual allowance of a few nasal consonants in coda position: /m n ŋ/. | * The gradual allowance of a few nasal consonants in coda position: /m n ŋ/. |
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