Universal 1411:

Universal 1411:

Original

If in a language only one member of a customary phoneme opposition exists, the existing member of the opposition can take over (fully or partially) the articulatory peculiarities of the lacking member.

Standardized

IF only one member of a customary phoneme opposition exists, THEN the existing member of the opposition can take over (fully or partially) the articulatory peculiarities of the lacking member.

Keywords

phoneme, opposition

Domain

phonology

Type

no genuine implication; rather: provided that

Status

unclear whether diachronic and/or achronic

Quality

statistical

Basis

Finno-Ugric languages

Source

Décsy 1970: 14

Counterexamples