Universal #1674

Legacy number: 1674

 Number  1669
 Original  If a language has palatalized a consonant before [e], then it must necessarily have previously palatalized this consonant before [i].
 Standardized  IF a consonant is palatalized before [e], THEN necessarily it will be also palatalized before [i].
 Keywords  palatalization, consonant
 Domain  phonology
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic, diachronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  ?
 Source  Chen 1971, Stampe [1972] 1979: 8, cited in Hyman & Schuh 1972: 14 [Hyman & Schuh 1974: 89], Hajek 1997: 5

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Discussion
Notes
1. The general rule is that a language starts by palatalizing in the most palatal position, and the higher a front vowel is, the more palatal it is (Hyman & Schuh 1974).2. Similarly, the loss of palatality is more likely to affect first vowels of weaker palatality: If palatality is lost before [i], it is also lost before [e] (Stampe 1979: 8).3. Hajek (1997: 5) has a more extensive hierarchy implying consonant palatalization from low to mid to high vowels (see IPA).
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. The general rule is that a language starts by palatalizing in the most palatal position, and the higher a front vowel is, the more palatal it is (Hyman & Schuh 1974).

2. Similarly, the loss of palatality is more likely to affect first vowels of weaker palatality: If palatality is lost before [i], it is also lost before [e] (Stampe 1979: 8).

3. Hajek 1997: 5</r> has a more extensive hierarchy implying consonant palatalization from low to mid to high vowels (see IPA).