Labialized onsets in Rma

Abstract In the study of Rma phonology (Eastern Tibeto-Burman < Sino-Tibetan/​Trans-Himalayan), there have been differing perspectives regarding labialized onsets both in synchrony and diachrony. Synchronically, these forms have been treated as CuV or as CwV sequences ( Sun 2003 ). In terms of diachrony, Chang (1967) reconstructs the following set of bilabial-stop initial clusters: * Bt , * Bd , * Bts , * Bts h , * Bdz , * Bs . Evans ( 2001 ; 2006a ) reconstructs none of these and proposes that labialized onsets are secondary developments in the dialects that have them. This paper explores the issue of labialized onsets through the lens of a previously undocumented variety of Rma. It offers a new perspective on the synchronic analysis for these segments as phonologically C w and contributes to an older discussion about the diachrony of these sounds. The paper finds support for Evans’ (2001) theory that these sounds are secondary developments from *- w - elements while also finding sub-group external evidence that some come from * p - pre-initials.