Proto-Austronesian *j Once Again

Abstract: The phonetic value of Proto-Austronesian *j is a difficult area of research, with a range of proposed reconstructions such as [ɡ], [ɡʲ], [ɟ], [ɣʲ], [ʝ], and more recently, [ɲʲ]. In this paper, yet another proposal for Proto-Austronesian *j is made, this time focusing on mergers, or lack of mergers, to determine both the most likely reconstructed value of *j and the likely sound change paths taken by *j as it evolved to its various reflexes. Based on these considerations, it is proposed that *j was a voiced sonorant palatal consonant, specifically a palatal lateral, [ʎ].