Universal #1766
Legacy number: 1766
| Number | 1761 |
| Original | Hierarchy of major-class and manner features in the context of consonantal weakening: Ø < glides < liquids < nasals < +v fricatives < -v fricatives/-v stops < -v stops.<br> The consonants more to the left on the hierarchy are classified as weaker, leading to eventual deletion, diachronically speaking. |
| Standardized | Hierarchy of major-class and manner features in the context of consonantal weakening: Ø < glides < liquids < nasals < +v fricatives < -v fricatives/-v stops < -v stops.<br> The consonants more to the left on the hierarchy are classified as weaker, leading to eventual deletion, diachronically speaking. |
| Formula | |
| Keywords | consonant, weakening, hierarchy |
| Domain | phonology |
| Type | implicational hierarchy |
| Status | unclear whether diachronic and/or achronic |
| Quality | statistical |
| Basis | Romance and Germanic languages |
| Source | Escure 1977: 60 |
Discussion
Notes
1. This hierarchy also expresses the directionality of change of a given consonant by representing the actual stages of the weakening process from right to left, leading to deletion (Escure 1977: 60).2. For a similar universal about nasal deletion, cf. #1798.3. Cf. #1806.4. An error: +voiced stops < -v stops?
Log in to join the discussion.
2. For a similar universal about nasal deletion, cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1798"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.
3. Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1806"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">
4. An error: +voiced stops < -v stops?