Paper abstract:

This Paper focuses on a descriptive analysis of labialized consonants and their historical interpretation in the Iberian-Caucasian (resp. Paleocaucasian) languages.

Two types of labialization are confirmed in the Ibero-Caucasian languages: (a) bi-labialization and (b) dentolabialization. Bi-labialized complex is an arithmetical sum of two phonemes and consequently, is found in every phonological position, though it is limited in the anlaut and inlaut. In addition, the first component of the labialized complex is largely found in the back-velar and pharyngeal consonants. It is relatively rarely seen in one morpheme within the forefront vowel, sonorants, and spirants. In front of w is not confirmed by m sonor, b, f, p. Although the c+w complex is confirmed in the synchronous level in anlaut, which is illegal for phonotactics of study languages, in this case, we have a sonant-component complex (B. Gigineishvili). In addition, the lexemes that show such a complex in anlaut may reveal the situation of a historical inlaut of the Proto-North Caucasian, such as a hunt, e.g. *dagwa: Чеч. dwog (