Proto Algic VI

Conditioned Yurok Reflexes of Proto Algic Vowels

Abstract

Berman (1982) proposed a loss of vowel length as one of two apparent phonological innovations shared by Wiyot and Yurok, but not Algonquian, implying a Ritwan subgrouping within Algic. However, once the Yurok reflexes of Proto Algic vowels are better understood, it is evident that the loss of vowel length proceeded very differently in Wiyot vs Yurok.