3.22 Derivational d-Insertion P-21.

As noted above, Pronominal d-Insertion P-20 applies when vowel- initial stems (including compounds/derivatives) are preceded by certain pronominal prefixes ending in //n// The rule does not apply, in general, to other phonologically similar combinations, even when a compound initial or derivational prefix ending in /n/ is followed by a vowel-initial stem. Instead, Velar-Insertion P-8 normally applies. Thus //mun-ala:di///mun-ngala:di/ 'having bad feet'.

However, there is one isolated instance where the rule inserting /d/ does apply in a compound. Unlike Pronominal d-Insertion P-20, this ex. does not show lengthening of the following (stem-initial) vowel, so we formulate it as a separate rule here.

The relevant form is /mand-irija/ Pl of /yirija/ (one of the human moiety terms, thus comprising about half of the Nunggubuyu people). The Sg form /yirija/ behaves like /irija/ (i.e., as vowel-initial stem) in some forms, notably /ngar-irija-yung/ 'woman of Yirija moiety'. [The relevant entry on p. 278 of Nunggubuyu Dictionary has a typo; emend (ngara-)ngari-irija-yung to (ngara-)ngar-irija-yung.] Since the Pl prefix here is /man-/ in several other compounds/derivatives, we take //man-irija// as base form here and posit a rule inserting /d/ under approximately the same conditions as Pronominal d-Insertion, but without affecting the length of the following vowel.

(P-21) Derivational d-Insertion
Ø → d / man___-irija ('persons of Yirija moiety')