LL-L: "Phonology" [E] LOWLANDS-L, 29.JUN.1999 (04)

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From: john feather [johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk]
Subject: Phonology

Ron

Re: Your message of 22 June

Spelling reforms are always resisted. It would seem to me to be courting
disaster for a would-be reformer to suggest that it would be "better" in
Dutch to switch from writing "huis" to "huiz" (with no change in
pronunciation).

But is it correct to say that the "underlying form" of the consonant is [s]
? The verb "huizen" has past tense "huisde". Which is more fundamental,
unvoicing of terminal *"z" or voicing of intervocalic "s" ?

John
johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Phonology

John asked:

> But is it correct to say that the "underlying form" of the consonant is [s]
> ? The verb "huizen" has past tense "huisde". Which is more fundamental,
> unvoicing of terminal *"z" or voicing of intervocalic "s" ?

Just ask yourself if both -zV -> -s and -sV -> -s can occur (disregarding
orthographic conventions) and if this situation is analogous to changes such as
-dV -> -t and -tV -> -t.  While you are doing so, bear in mind that Dutch *has
final devoicing*.  Why should /-z/ be an exception when all other voiced
consonants undergo the rule?

Regards,

Reinhard/Ron

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