Universal #707
Legacy number: 707
| Number | 704 |
| Original | The number of height distinctions in front vowels is equal to or greater than the number in back vowels. |
| Standardized | IF there are n height distinctions in back vowels, THEN there are not more than n distinctions in front vowels. |
| Keywords | height, front, back, vowel |
| Domain | phonology |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute |
| Basis | sample of 209 languages in Crothers 1978 |
| Source | Crothers 1978: 135, cited in Holenstein 1985: 125 |
Discussion
Counterexamples
Northern and Southern Tepehuan, Papago (all Uto-Aztecan), Tlahuitoltepec Mixe (Mixe-Zoque), Guaymí (Chibchan) (Yasugi 1995: 74)
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