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Universal 859:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 859:

Original
In initial clusters the existence of at least one sequence containing a liquid, whether voiced or unvoiced, immediately followed by an obstruent implies the existence of at least one sequence containing an obstruent immediately followed by a liquid.
Standardized
In initial consonant clusters, IF there is at least one sequence containing a liquid (voiced or unvoiced) immediately followed by an obstruent, THEN there is at least one sequence containing an obstruent immediately followed by a liquid.
Keywords
consonant cluster, initial, obstruent, liquid
Domain
phonology
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
sample of 104 languages in Greenberg 1964
Source
Greenberg 1964 [Greenberg 1965: 18, Greenberg 1978e: 257, #17]
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP
    1. May 2020

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