The lateral fricative consonant: a challenge for Kumiay writing

Abstract

This article presents a reflection on a particular orthographic problem that arose from the compilation of a collection of texts in Kumiay, an indigenous language spoken in Baja California, Mexico. Like other languages of the Yuman family, Kumiay lacks a literary tradition and its orthographic system is still under development. While most of the letters can be borrowed from the Spanish alphabet while retaining their phonetic value, some Kumiay phonemes have no equivalents in Spanish and require a specific orthographic decision. The voiceless lateral fricative consonant is one of these phonemes. This text reviews the different possibilities of representing the lateral fricative in written form and provides arguments for and against each of the options. In conclusion, the importance of the basic principle of orthography that prescribes avoiding ambiguity is evaluated in light of the acceptance or rejection of the writing by the community of speakers.