Universal #1711
Legacy number: 1711
| Number | 1706 |
| Original | The Law of Initials: Word-medial syllable heads are the more preferred, the less they differ from possible word-initial syllable heads of the language system. |
| Standardized | The Law of Initials: Word-medial syllable heads are the more preferred, the less they differ from possible word-initial syllable heads of the language system. |
| Keywords | syllable, head, word, phonotactics |
| Domain | phonology |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | statistical |
| Basis | languages mentioned in Vennemann 1988, with special reference to German, Germanic, Italian, and Latin |
| Source | Vennemann 1988: 32 |
Discussion
Counterexamples
German disallows word-initial cluster of alveolar stops and the lateral liquid, but owing to recent syncopations they occur in non-initial syllables: e.g., han.dlung (but ok in Northern pronunciation: /hant.lung/.)
Notes
1. Vennemann’s PREFERENCE LAWS (1988: 2-3):Diachronic Maxim:Linguistic change on a given parameter does not affect a language structure as long as there exist structures in the language system that are less preferred in terms of the relevant preference law.Synchronic Maxim:A language system will in general not contain a structure on a given parameter without containing those structures constructible with the means of the system that are more preferred in terms of the relevant preference law.2. Head = part of syllable basis which precedes the nucleus
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Diachronic Maxim:
Linguistic change on a given parameter does not affect a language structure as long as there exist structures in the language system that are less preferred in terms of the relevant preference law.
Synchronic Maxim:
A language system will in general not contain a structure on a given parameter without containing those structures constructible with the means of the system that are more preferred in terms of the relevant preference law.
2. Head = part of syllable basis which precedes the nucleus