Universal #709
Legacy number: 709
| Number | 706 |
| Original | The number of vowels in a nasal vowel system is equal to or less than the number in the corresponding oral vowel system. |
| Standardized | IF there are n nasal vowels, THEN there are at least n oral vowels. |
| Formula | nasal vowels ⇒ as many or more oral vowels |
| Keywords | vowel, nasal, oral |
| Domain | phonology |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute |
| Basis | languages in Isacenko 1937 and in Ferguson 1963, sample of 209 languages in Crothers 1978 |
| Source | Isacenko 1937: 270; Ferguson 1963: 58 (XI), cited in Uspensky 1965: 193; Crothers 1978: 135, cited in Holenstein 1985: 126 |
Discussion
Notes
1. Greenberg notes that, in general, the frequency of nasal vowels is much lower than that of corresponding oral vowels, even though there are minimal pairs (Greenberg 1966b, cited in Ferguson 1974: 8).2. A nasal vowel (NV) is a phoneme the most characteristic allophone of which has oral and velar opening and vibration of the vocal cords. (Ferguson 1963: 58) 3. For a similar statement about nasal consonants, see #793.4. More specific versions concerning individual phonemes are ##1818, 1819, 1848.
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2. A nasal vowel (NV) is a phoneme the most characteristic allophone of which has oral and velar opening and vibration of the vocal cords. (Ferguson 1963: 58) <br3. For a similar statement about nasal consonants, see <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=793"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">. <br 4. More specific versions concerning individual phonemes are <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1818"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1819"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1848"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.