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Default variability: The coronal-velar relationship

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Abstract

Coronal consonants and velar consonants both exhibit special patterning in terms of distribution, alternations, and markedness. In this paper, I propose an account of these special properties of coronals and velars. I argue that, under most conditions, coronals and velars result from a single representation, a Place node with no dependent. The different realizations are due to the interaction of a phonological redundancy rule which supplies the unmarked place of articulation, coronal, with a distinct mechanism of phonetic interpretation which interprets a consonant lacking a phonological place of articulation as a velar. A phonologically unmarked place of articulation is thus realizable as either coronal or velar. Support for this claim comes from phonological domains (constraints on the occurrence of place of articulation in certain positions, dissimilation effects, complexity constraints) and phonetic realizations. The proposed approach reconciles claims that coronal and velar consonants are both unmarked and offers an account of apparent variability in markedness.

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  1. Department of Linguistics, University of Toronto, M5S 1A1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Keren Rice

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Rice, K. Default variability: The coronal-velar relationship. Nat Lang Linguist Theory 14, 493–543 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133597

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