rarum 29: use of metathesis (CV ~ VC) for grammatical purposes, viz. to express distinctions of aspect and/or definiteness, or of word-class (noun-verb)
Where found
Rotuman (Oceanic, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Austronesian); Clallam and other Straits lgs of Coast Salish; Sierra Miwok lgs and Costanoan lgs (Penutian)
Domain
phonology, morphology
Subdomain
types of exponents and their uses
Keywords
metathesis, aspect, definiteness, word class
Type
rarum
Universals violated
none
Source
Thompson, Laurence C. & M. Terry Thompson (1969). Metathesis as a grammatical device. IJAL 35: 213-219. Okrand, Marc (1979). Metathesis in Costanoan grammar. IJAL 45: 123-130. See now: http://www.ling.ohio-state.edu/~ehume/metathesis/
