semivowels

I'm merely exploring a more general phenomenon here, one in which stops neighbouring closed vowels or semivowels are universally more prone to affrication.

Concern trolls and the Etruscan bilabial 'f' 2009

If you're claiming that there was an earlier contrast between, say, *(y)i- ( *yə-) and *ʔi- ( *ʔə) then I supposed I can accept that as a possibility, although I think rather that initial vowels *i- and *u- yielded *ʔə while semivowels were already in existence beforehand to supply the language with semivowels after the reduction of the vowel system.

The Great Pre-IE Centralization 2007

In speech again there are infinite varieties of sound, and some one who was a wise man, or more than man, comprehended them all in the classes of mutes, vowels, and semivowels, and gave to each of them a name, and assigned them to the art of grammar.

Philebus 2006

Must we not begin in the same way with letters; first separating the vowels, and then the consonants and mutes, into classes, according to the received distinctions of the learned; also the semivowels, which are neither vowels, nor yet mutes; and distinguishing into classes the vowels themselves?

The CRATYLUS Plato 1975

It is a significant fact in this connection that M is the only one of the liquids (semivowels) that does not allow a long vowel before it.

The Roman Pronunciation of Latin Why we use it and how to use it Frances Ellen Lord

All other consonants are _semivowels_, and are pronounced with a

Orthography As Outlined in the State Course of Study for Illinois Elmer W. Cavins

The semivowels belong to Word and Life, but the vowels to Man and Church, for through Man voice gave power to all.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy 1840-1916 1913

These elementary sounds are either vowels, semivowels, or mutes.

Poetics. English 384 BC-322 BC Aristotle 1911

First, we separate the alphabet into classes of letters, distinguishing the consonants, mutes, vowels, and semivowels; and when we have learnt them singly, we shall learn to know them in their various combinations of two or more letters; just as the painter knows how to use either a single colour, or a combination of colours.

Cratylus 427? BC-347? BC Plato 1855

SOCRATES: Must we not begin in the same way with letters; first separating the vowels, and then the consonants and mutes (letters which are neither vowels nor semivowels), into classes, according to the received distinctions of the learned; also the semivowels, which are neither vowels, nor yet mutes; and distinguishing into classes the vowels themselves?

Cratylus 427? BC-347? BC Plato 1855