Universal #219
Legacy number: 219
| Number | 219 |
| Original | In all languages: if there are non-root morphemes, then all such morphemes have a more limited inventory of phonemes than root-morphemes and the average length of non-root morphemes is not more than the length of root-morphemes. |
| Standardized | Provided there are non-root as well as root morphemes, non-root morphemes have a more limited inventory of phonemes than root-morphemes and are on average shorter than root-morphemes. |
| Keywords | morpheme, root, non-root, phoneme inventory, length |
| Domain | phonology, morphology |
| Type | no genuine implication; rather: provided that |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute |
| Basis | unspecified |
| Source | see Vardul’ 1969, referring to Glazov |
Discussion
Notes
Not entirely equivalent:IF phonemes can occur in non-root morphemes, THEN they can also occur in root-morphemes.For example, non-roots may have a very limited set of vowels, whereas roots may use all vowels; but there may be non-root vowels (e.g. schwa) that cannot occur in roots.IF non-roots can be x long (x measured in segments, syllables, moras ...), THEN roots will on average be longer than x.
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IF phonemes can occur in non-root morphemes, THEN they can also occur in root-morphemes. For example, non-roots may have a very limited set of vowels, whereas roots may use all vowels; but there may be non-root vowels (e.g. schwa) that cannot occur in roots.
IF non-roots can be x long (x measured in segments, syllables, moras ...), THEN roots will on average be longer than x.