Male and Female Forms of Speech in the Atayalic Group

Male and Female Forms of Speech in the Atayalic Group

Of all Formosan languages and dialects, Mayrinax (including the minor dialects of Sahiyaŋ and Tabilas) and Pa?kuali? of Atayal are the only known dialects that show certain well-defined differences between the male and female forms of speech, 97 items having been recorded so far. The female forms preserve the archaic features and are the original forms, whereas the corresponding male forms are innovative. The female forms generally preserve CVCVC, a typical Austronesian word structure, whereas the male forms . may have some type of suffix or infix added, the vowel /a/ ( < Proto-Atayalic *-ra-) or /i/ inserted, an intervocalic consonant /g/, /r/ or /h/ deleted, the final syllable replaced, a consonant in a certain position replaced, and a few items involve suppletive forms.