Description of Statistics and Distribution of Vowels of the Chamali Language
The problem of distributional characteristics of sound phonemes is topical and insufficiently studied in current science. It is especially revealed in unwritten languages. The author for the first time gives the description of statistics and distribution of nasal vowels of the unwritten Chamali language, which functions on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan and belongs to Avar-AndiTsez group of Nakh-Dagestanian languages.In the Andi subgroup of languages, nasal vowels are found in the phonetic system of the properly Andi (besides of properly Andi sub-dialect), Botlikh, Godoberi, Karata, Akhwakh, Bagwal, Tindi and Chamali languages. In the Andi-Botlikh-Godoberi sub-group nasalization is displayed more clearly in the Godoberi language; in the Karata-Akhwakh sub-group – in both languages; and in the Bagwali-Tindi-Chamal sub-group – in the Chamali language. Nasalization is the second phenomenon and it appeared as a result of weakening “n”, the traces of which are shown as nasalizing of a preceding vowel. So, in all Andi languages nasalized vowels appeared as a result of weakening (resp. reduction of joint moment) the vowel “n”.Nasalized vowels in the Chamali language are differentiated into short and long. The rate of their usage in the language is different: some vowels are distinguished by the greatest frequency, others – by lesser frequency. The analysis of frequency of the Chamali vowels shows the following regularity: according to the statistics, simple (oral) vowels are in the first place, the nasalized ones are in the second place and long vowels are at the end. All nasalized vowels of the Chamali language are met practically in all positions of the word – in anlaut, inlaut and auslaut.According to the statistics, amongthe nasalized vowels, the most used vowels are -an, then-yn, -in, -en, -on. The frequency of long nasalized vowels usage is the following: -an – 44 %, -in –37 %, -yn – 18 %.