Universal #1964

Legacy number: 1964

 Number  1958
 Original  If a language has the basic word-form stem+suffix, the accent will fall on a non-final syllable.
If a language has the basic word-form that coincides with the stem, the accent will fall on the final syllable.
 Standardized  IF the basic word form is stem+suffix, THEN word stress, provided it is fixed, is on a non-final syllable.
IF the basic word form coincides with the stem (i.e., is without suffix), THEN word stress, provided it is fixed, is on final syllable.
 Keywords  word stress, suffix
 Domain  phonology, morphology
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  with suffix:
Sanskrit (Indo-Aryan, IE), Old Persian (Iranian, IE), Yiddish, German, Icelandic (Germanic, IE), Polish (Slavonic, IE), Estonian, Finnish, Karelian, Livonian, Saami (Finno-Ugric, Uralic), Georgian, Megrelian, Laz (Kartvelian), Ket (Yeniseian);
without suffix:
Persian, Beluchi, Tajik, Kurdish, Jazghulam, Ishkashim (Iranian, IE), Grabar, Modern Armenian (Armenian, IE), French (Romance, IE), Udmurt (Finno-Ugric, Uralic), Nanay, Itelmen [?!, is really Chukotko-Kamchatkan], Orokh (Manchu-Tungus, Altaic), Turkish, Karaim, Turkmen, Uzbek, Gagauz, Kumyk, Tuva, Khakas (Turkic, Altaic), Lezgian (Lezgic, NE Caucasian)
 Source  Butskhrikidze 1996, Butskhrikidze 1998, Butskhrikidze 2002: 12-14.

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Discussion
Notes
Suggested rationale: Prosodic prominence should be on that part of the word which has the greatest informational load, i.e., the stem."Basic word form" is the unmarked/basic paradigmatic form of a word; NOM.SG or ABS.SG of a noun, etc.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Suggested rationale: Prosodic prominence should be on that part of the word which has the greatest informational load, i.e., the stem. "Basic word form" is the unmarked/basic paradigmatic form of a word; NOM.SG or ABS.SG of a noun, etc.