Universal 861:

Universal 861:

Original

Voiced semivowels are not followed by obstruents in initial clusters or preceded by obstruents in final clusters.

Standardized

In initial clusters, IF there is a voiced semivowel present, THEN it will not be followed by an obstruent.
In final clusters, IF there is a voiced semivowel present, THEN it will not be preceded by an obstruent.

Keywords

consonant cluster, final, initial, semivowel, obstruent

Domain

phonology

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

sample of 104 languages in Greenberg 1964

Source

Greenberg 1964 [Greenberg 1965: 19, Greenberg 1978e: 259, #19]

Counterexamples