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Universal 221:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 221:

Original
In all languages: each free root morpheme (in contrast to the non-root morpheme) is expressed with more than one consonant phoneme.
Standardized
Every free root morpheme (in contrast to non-root morphemes) is expressed with more than one consonant phoneme.
Keywords
root, non-root, phoneme, consonant
Domain
phonology, morphology
Type
unconditional
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute?
Basis
unspecified
Source
see Vardul’ 1969, referring to Glazov
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    Glazov’s scope probably includes all phonemes, i.e. consonants and vowels. His universal categorically excludes free root morphemes expressed by one consonant phoneme, but should allow for free root morphemes expressed by one vowel phoneme as well as other combinations of vowel and consonant phonemes (CC, CV, VC, VV, etc.). [Why doesn’t he say so, then? , As it stands, this is crap. ]

    1. May 2020

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