Syllables and words are more likely to contain obstruents syllable and word-initially, and sonorants finally.
Standardized
IF obstruents occur syllable- and word-finally, THEN they occur syllable- and word-initially. IF sononrants occur syllable- and word-initially, THEN they occur syllable- and word-finally.
Keywords
obstruent, sonorant, syllable, word, initial, final, phonotactics
1. This statement suggests that segments tend to be more consonantal (more closed, less sonorant) initially, and more vocalic (more open, more sonorant) finally, presumably accounting for the worldwide tendency toward CV shape in syllables (Bell 1971).2. In the voiceless series, fricatives are significantly more initial in distribution than stops (Coberly 1984: 105).
1. This statement suggests that segments tend to be more consonantal (more closed, less sonorant) initially, and more vocalic (more open, more sonorant) finally, presumably accounting for the worldwide tendency toward CV shape in syllables (Bell 1971).2. In the voiceless series, fricatives are significantly more initial in distribution than stops (Coberly 1984: 105).