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Universal 1704:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1704:

Original
It follows from the Head Law () that a syllable will be the more preferred, the greater the Consonantal Strength of its onset is.
Standardized
A syllable will be the more preferred, the greater the Consonantal Strength of its onset is.
(Corrollary of the Head Law ())
Keywords
syllable, coda, nucleus, consonant, strength
Domain
phonology
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
statistical
Basis
languages mentioned in Vennemann 1988, with special reference to German, Germanic, Italian, and Latin
Source
Vennemann 1988: 12
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1. For syllables in contact this also follows from the Contact Law (#1714).2. Vennemann’s PREFERENCE LAWS (1988: 2-3):Diachronic Maxim:Linguistic change on a given parameter does not affect a language structure as long as there exist structures in the language system that are less preferred in terms of the relevant preference law.Synchronic Maxim:A language system will in general not contain a structure on a given parameter without containing those structures constructible with the means of the system that are more preferred in terms of the relevant preference law.3. Head = part of syllable basis which precedes the nucleus

    1. May 2020

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