Universal #1101
Legacy number: 1101
| Number | 1097 |
| Original | If a language has to maintain a high number of vowel distinctions which are perceptually close to each other, then the addition of distinctive vowel nasalization creates an unstable system ... leading to elimination of distinctively nasal vowels or reducing the number of oral vowels (which is rare). |
| Standardized | IF there is a high number of vowel distinctions which are perceptually close to each other, THEN the addition of distinctive vowel nasalization creates an unstable system leading to elimination of distinctively nasal vowels or reducing the number of oral vowels (which is rare). |
| Keywords | nasal, vowel, nasalization |
| Domain | phonology |
| Type | no genuine implication; rather: provided that |
| Status | diachronic |
| Quality | statistical |
| Basis | American English, Swedish (both Germanic), Hindi (Indo-Iranian), French, Brazilian Portuguese (both Romance, all IE), Amoy Chinese (Sinitic, Sino-Tibetan) |
| Source | Clumeck 1975: 144 |
Discussion
Notes
This diachronic implication is speculative and is not based directly on the given sample of languages.
Comment
This diachronic implication is speculative and is not based directly on the given sample of languages.
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