192

In the case of uma&.nta.ma, beginning with the base
form uma.nta.m the rules apply in the order 1, 2. In
the case of um.t'a.ma&.1la, beginning with the base form
um.t'a.m the rules apply in the order 2, 1 with the
intervening suffixation of -jla between 2 and 1.

Since um.t'a.ma.J]la is more polite, having the
politive suffix -lla, one is tempted to infer that the
restoration of the final vowel to umé.nta.ma may be an
attempt to soften the command by preparing the verb stem
to take the politive, but since stress has already been

placed, the word is closed to further suffixation.

4-3.4 Final position in syntactical word !9

4-3.41 Final vowel-dropping or -devoicing

In all dialects the final sentence suffixes (for
example, -wa, -xa, -lla ~ -ya, -sa, and -ti) commonly
lose their final vowels phrase-finally within a sentence;
-wa and -lla ~ -ya commonly lose them sentence-finally
as well. Such vowel-dropping may well depend on stylistic
considerations, as Hardman has suggested.

Instead of dropping, final vowels may devoice
sentence-finally, as in the example given in 4-3.33 above.
A final vowel which must be retained because of its gram-
matical function, for example the verb inflection 33
Simple -i, may devoice, especially if it occurs between

two voiceless consonants sentence-medially. (For an