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In:Language Description Informed by Theory
Edited by Rob Pensalfini, Myfany Turpin and Diana Guillemin
[Studies in Language Companion Series 147] 2014
► pp. 81–96

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Prestopping of nasals and laterals is only partly parallel

Published online: 28 January 2014
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https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.147.05rou
Pre-stopped nasals and laterals occur in several Australian languages, but why? Nasal pre-stopping likely enhances cues to place of articulation contrasts (Butcher 1999, 2006). Though recent work proposes that lateral pre-stopping does likewise (Keyser & Stevens 2006: footnote 7; Loakes et al. 2008), the supporting argumentation appears unconvincing upon scrutiny. With reference to enhancement theory, articulatory phonology, and articulatory and acoustic phonetics, I speculate on: plausible diachronic sources of pre-stopped nasals via stochastic and functional processes; the extension of pre-stopping to laterals through a drive for regularity in the organisation of gesturally complex segments (Browman & Goldstein 1995; inter alia); and explanations for the asymmetrical prevalence of pre-stopping across places of articulation (Hercus 1972). Both language use and innate universals are crucial.
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