Universal #1712

Legacy number: 1712

 Number  1707
 Original  The Law of Finals:
Word-medial syllable codas are the more preferred, the less they differ from possible word-final syllable codas of the language system.
 Standardized  The Law of Finals:
Word-medial syllable codas are the more preferred, the less they differ from possible word-final syllable codas of the language system.
 Keywords  syllable, coda, 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: 33

← Back to Universals Archive

Discussion
Counterexamples
This is a very weak law, having numerous exceptions.
Notes
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.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Vennemann's PREFERENCE LAWS (Vennemann 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.