/h̃/ hasperen sudurkarituaren inguruan

Abstract

This work brings together the results from several studies carried out on the Basque segment /h̃/, and presents its main characteristics. Starting from its general typological distribution, the rarity of this segment is recalled, as well as that of an opposition between aspirates based on nasality. Regarding its development within Basque, it is mentioned that the straightforward intervocalic *n > /h̃/ process, which Mitxelena passionately advocated for, has prevailed as the generally accepted account, and it is tentatively placed between the 5^th and 8^th centuries. Finally, synchronic phonetic and phonological aspects of this segment are presented: a detailed description of the phonetic structure of this sound and its phonological features, its distribution, the processes it is involved in, and its opposition with oral /h/ are described, favoring the proposal of a phonologically nasalized /h̃/ brought by Hualde over the rival /ṼhṼ/ analysis.