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1. May 2020
FP
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Universal 1799:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1799:

Original
There is a tendency for consonants to front initially and back finally.
Standardized
There is a tendency for consonants to front when in initial position and to back when in final position.
Keywords
obstruent, voice
Domain
phonology
Type
unconditional
Status
unclear whether diachronic and/or achronic
Quality
statistical
Basis
five diary studies of English-speaking children in Ingram 1974, 58-language sample in Coberly 1984
Source
Ingram 1974, referred to by Coberly 1984: 102
Counterexamples
FP

FP

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One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1. Stated as a universal acquisitional sequence, but can be assumed to be intended also as a universal implication. 2. Bailey (1977) makes a similar claim that apical consonants tend to be favored syllable-initially, but velars syllable-finally, in the languages of the world.

    1. May 2020

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