Universal #864

Legacy number: 864

 Number  861
 Original  Voiced semivowels are not followed by obstruents in initial clusters or preceded by obstruents in final clusters.
 Standardized  In initial clusters, IF there is a voiced semivowel present, THEN it will not be followed by an obstruent.
In final clusters, IF there is a voiced semivowel present, THEN it will not be preceded by an obstruent.
 Keywords  consonant cluster, final, initial, semivowel, obstruent
 Domain  phonology
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  sample of 104 languages in Greenberg 1964
 Source  Greenberg 1964 [Greenberg 1965: 19, Greenberg 1978e: 259, #19]

← Back to Universals Archive

Discussion
Counterexamples
Notes