• DOI:10.1086/465105
• Corpus ID: 143225017

Some Generalizations concerning Glottalic Consonants, Especially Implosives

@article{Greenberg1970SomeGC,
  title={Some Generalizations concerning Glottalic Consonants, Especially Implosives},
  author={Joseph Harold Greenberg},
  journal={International Journal of American Linguistics},
  year={1970},
  volume={36},
  pages={123 - 145}
}

• J. Greenberg
• Published 1 April 1970
• Linguistics
• International Journal of American Linguistics

1.1. J. C. Catford, in a now classic paper (1939) distinguished two types of glottalic consonants: (1) ejectives (or explosives) involving the raising of the larynx and the subsequent expulsion of the air compressed in the supraglottal cavity, and (2) injectives (or implosives) utilizing the opposite mechanism of lowering the larynx, thus rarefying the air in the supraglottal cavity so that, on release of the oral closure, an ingressive flow of external air is immediately succeeded by egressive lung air. For purposes of the present study of these two classes of sounds, approximately 150 phonological descriptions have been examined.' This sampling is perhaps close to exhaustive for the implosives with which this paper is more particularly concerned. For the more widely distributed ejectives, the sample is far less complete. The appended bibliography lists all the sources consulted whether cited in the body of this paper or not. 1.2. A more thorough review of the literature at a later stage of the study showed that some of the conclusions regarding implosives had been anticipated by Haudricourt (especially 1950). Reference is made to those conclusions where appropriate. The present study is perhaps still of interest even for these questions, since it presents additional data not considered by Haudricourt, whether because they referred to language outside his area of specialization (Southeast Asia) or because their appearance was subsequent to his publications. This evidence serves to confirm the essential correctness of prac-