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Universal 656:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 656:

Original
The probability of homophony is inversely related to the number of principal phonemes and to the length of sequence units (phrases, words, or morphs).
Standardized
The more numerous the principal phonemes and the longer the sequence units (phrases, words, or morphs), the lower the probability of homophony.
Keywords
homophony, phoneme inventory, word length
Domain
phonology
Type
mutual implication
Status
achronic
Quality
statistical
Basis
Finno-Ugric languages
Source
DĂ©csy 1970: 11, DĂ©csy 1987: 70, cited in Plank 1998
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1. That is, the higher the number of the principle phonemes, the lower the probability of homophony. The longer the sequence units (phrases, words, or morphs), the less the possibility of homophony. 2. See also #656.

    1. May 2020

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