Kankanay and the Problem *R and *l Reflexes

Abstract

Kankanay is a member of a putative subgroup of Philippine languages which may be labelled Igorot. This subgroup, labelled by Llamzon (1969: 124) the 'Ifugao subgroup' has as its members at least the following languages: Kankanay (Knk.), Bontoc (Bon.), Ifugao(lfg.), Balangaw (Blw.), Kalinga (KIa.), and Itneg (ltg.) (also known as Tingguian). It probably also includes Isinay, but available data on this language are sparse, and the evidence for its inclusion is incomplete. Within the Igorot subgroup, there is evidence for postulating a closer relationship between some languages than others. Kankanay has Bontoc as its closest genetic relative, and Kalinga and Itneg are also more closely related to each other than either is to the other members of the subfamily.