Ludlings and phonology in Tagalog

This paper presents an analysis of the Tagalog “G-word” ludling and addresses its implications in Tagalog phonology. It is shown that the G-word ludling is best analyzed as an iterative infixal ludling, where the sequence of -Vg- is inserted after every onset, rather than infixation of -gV-. Crucially, the G-word ludling reveals constraints on Tagalog phonology that otherwise would be difficult to observe: *C1 VC1 V, hiatus avoidance, and iambic stress. Furthermore, our analysis of the G-words raises an important issue in Tagalog phonology: the possible emergence of the disyllabic “perfect prosodic word” in the G-words. Taken together, this paper offers another case study supporting the important role that ludlings play in phonological theory.