reduplication in the Formosan language of Bunun
What is it about?
This paper examines the variable RED placements in CV reduplication of Isbukun Bunun and argues that the variable RED placements are simultaneously governed by the size and the syllable well-formedness of the root. The RED is normally prefixed to the root; however, if onsetless RED is generated under normal copying, the placement of the RED shifts one syllable rightward, except for shorter (bimoraic) roots.
Why is it important?
This paper presents a novel generalization of the reduplicant placement in CV reduplication in Isbukun Bunun. The paper shows that the variable RED placements cannot be explained in terms of the presence of a PF marker or merely by the syllable number of the root, as assumed in previous studies, but are driven by a universal tendency for the RED to be unmarked and the need for the P-Root to sustain a minimal size.