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Universal 1763:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1763:

Original
The velars are most likely to undergo weakening, then the dentals, and lastly the labials, in that order.
Standardized
IF labials undergo phonological weakening, THEN dentals will have undergone phonological weakening.
IF dentals undergo phonological weakening, THEN velars will have undergone phonological weakening.
Keywords
consonant, weakening, labial, dental, velar
Domain
phonology
Type
implicational hierarchy
Status
diachronic
Quality
statistical
Basis
survey of 600 Chinese dialects in Chen 1974
Source
Chen 1974: 911
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1.For a similar heirarchy of consonantal weakening discussing major-class and manner, see #1766.2. For a more general claim of the same nature, cf. #1767, about nasals, #1770.

    1. May 2020

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