Which sound features are common in Paleo-Siberian languages?

The Paleo-Siberian languages exhibit several distinct phonological characteristics that are common across the group. These features include:1

• Postvelar consonants: These are sounds produced farther back in the mouth than the standard /k/ sound, typically denoted as q.1
• Vowel harmony: Many of these languages utilize various forms of vowel harmony, which involves the alternation of vowels within words, such as the variation between e and i observed in Nivkh.1
• Consonant alternations: Languages in this group often feature systematic shifts between consonants, such as the alternation between b, v, and f found in Nivkh.1
• Rich consonant clusters: With the exception of Yukaghir, these languages are characterized by complex consonant clusters, which are particularly prominent in Nivkh and Itelmen.1

While these languages share certain phonological traits, it is important to note that these similarities are often the result of linguistic diffusion across geographic areas rather than evidence of a shared genetic origin.2