Universal #1009

Legacy number: 1009

 Number  1005
 Original  ... across-the-board spirantization processes tend to start with labials and velars and then spread to dentals.
 Standardized  IF dentals are spirantized, THEN labials and velars are most likely spirantized as well.
 Formula  spiratized dentals ⇒ spirantized labials & spirantized velars
 Keywords  spirantization
 Domain  phonology
 Type  implication
 Status  diachronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  Greek, Spanish, Danish, English (all Indo-European), Aramaic, Arabic (both Semitic, Afro-Asiatic)
 Source  Ferguson 1978b: 435

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Discussion
Notes
All of these hypothesized "universals" may be modified or overridden by conflicting processes, particularly those involving social factors, and some exceptions are unexplained. (Ferguson 1978b: 437)
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
All of these hypothesized "universals" may be modified or overridden by conflicting processes, particularly those involving social factors, and some exceptions are unexplained. (Ferguson 1978b: 437)