178

When the verbal derivational -kipa- ‘past a point’
occurs on a two-vowel noun verbalized with -cha-, the
three-vowel rule also applies although -kipa- usually

requires a preceding vowel.

uta.ch_.kipa.si.ni.fia 'to fix the roof of a house'
12 3
(La Paz/ Tiahuanaco) uta ‘house’

The examples suggest that the three-vowel rule
may have applied more generally in the past than it does
today. That is, the fact that some suffixes trigger the
three-vowel rule on roots or stems having three vowels
may reflect a stage during which the rule operated for
all suffixed three-vowel stems regardless of whether
the suffix in question normally required a preceding

vowel or consonant.
4-3.22.2 Consonants

The following rules apply after suffixation
accompanied by vowel-dropping has created certain con-

sonant clusters.
4-3.22.21 Geminate consonant clusters

Examples of geminate consonant clusters were given
in 4-3.22.16.2. They usually reduce to one. Three succes-

sive geminate consonants usually reduce to two.