Les Deux Schèmes Syllabiques du Français

In the present paper is proposed a theory of the French syllable within the framework of non-linear phonology. The theory claims to be a novel one in that it stresses the need for a distinction between two types of syllable templates, one for full vowels and one for shwa. Some evidence will be presented that in other languages, especially in Dutch, more than one canonical syllable template has to be admitted as well. This view clearly conflicts with Trommelen 1984 because of her idea to explain, by means of only one syllable template, the all but uniform phonotactic behaviour of the Dutch vowels. Noske 1982 and Rialland 1986 will also be contested, the one for his refusal to admit that a French syllabic onset may consist of three consonants, the other for her assumption that French has two kinds of shwas.