Universal #921

Legacy number: 921

 Number  918
 Original  The presence of the voiceless labial fricative phoneme /f/ in a system presupposes the simultaneous presence of the voiced labial fricative phoneme /w-v/.
 Standardized  IF there is the voiceless labial fricative phoneme /f/, THEN there will be the voiced labial fricative phoneme /w-v/.
 Formula  /f/ ⇒ /w-v/
 Keywords  labial, fricative
 Domain  phonology
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  languages in Gamkrelidze 1975 [1978] of worldwide distribution
 Source  <r>Gamkrelidze 1975: 251 [Gamkrelidze 1978: 31]

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Discussion
Notes
1. In Gamkrelidze’s definition of a paradigmatic stop, positions are limited to bilabial, dental/alveolar, and velar. Palatal and uvular are excluded. Only stop systems with voicing contrast are considered in his analysis. In his terms of which segments can be considered legitimate members of the paradigm for stops, aspirated, glottalized and plain are allowed to fill the respective positions. Only phonemes are considered. The paradigm for fricatives includes only labial and velar positions, alveolar, palatal, interdental, and uvular are excluded.2. There is a statistical correlation in the labial series, whereby the relative frequency of the voiced fricative /w-v/, as a rule, exceeds that of the corresponding voiceless fricative /f/. (Gamkrelidze 1975: 251)3. Cf. a similar statement of Terentjev’s (#1681). 4. This universal implies the opposite of Nartey’s less restrictive claim (#799): If there is a voiced obstruent, then most likely its voiceless cognate is present as well.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. In Gamkrelidze's definition of a paradigmatic stop, positions are limited to bilabial, dental/alveolar, and velar. Palatal and uvular are excluded. Only stop systems with voicing contrast are considered in his analysis. In his terms of which segments can be considered legitimate members of the paradigm for stops, aspirated, glottalized and plain are allowed to fill the respective positions. Only phonemes are considered. The paradigm for fricatives includes only labial and velar positions, alveolar, palatal, interdental, and uvular are excluded.

2. There is a statistical correlation in the labial series, whereby the relative frequency of the voiced fricative /w-v/, as a rule, exceeds that of the corresponding voiceless fricative /f/. (Gamkrelidze 1975: 251)

3. Cf. a similar statement of Terentjev's (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1681"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">).

4. This universal implies the opposite of Nartey's less restrictive claim (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=799"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">): If there is a voiced obstruent, then most likely its voiceless cognate is present as well.