16.2806, Disc: Re: Phonology, Mysterious /s/

[LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-16-2806. Thu Sep 29 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 16.2806, Disc: Re:  Phonology, Mysterious /s/

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1)
Date: 26-Sep-2005
From: Dinha T. Gorgis < gorgis_3 at yahoo.co.uk >
Subject: Re: 16-2712, Phonology, Mysterious /s/ 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 15:53:45
From: Dinha T. Gorgis < gorgis_3 at yahoo.co.uk >
Subject: Re: 16-2712, Phonology, Mysterious /s/ 
 

[Re: LINGUIST 16.2712, Phonology:  Mysterious /s/
http://linguistlist.org/issues/16/16-2712.html]


Dear researcher,

Standard Arabic prohibits both s+C and V+s+C. Not only this, but it prohibits
consonant cluster formation save at word-final position in case the speaker
wishes to pause whereby only a CC is allowed. And this expains the failure of
Arabs learning English to produce CCC and CCCC clusters at all word-positions.

Assyrian, as spoken today, permits s+C (whether voiced or voiceless), though
genetically related, e.g. /spa:y/ 'good or well'(with noticeable loss of
aspiration, like English); /smo:qa/ 'red' (with a devoiced m). I believe it is a
matter of habit formation; never biological and never universal!

Best,
Prof. Dinha T. Gorgis
Hashemite University,
Jordan 


Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics
                     Genetic Classification
                     Historical Linguistics
                     Linguistic Theories
                     Morphology
                     Phonetics
                     Phonology
                     Typology





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LINGUIST List: Vol-16-2806