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University of Bologna
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Christian LEHMANN, University of Erfurt
Latin syllable structure in typological perspective
The typology of syllable structure considers three parameters:
1. phonotaxis of syllable structure,
2. correspondence of syllable structure to morpheme structure,
3. syllable structure processes.
1. Phonotaxis of syllable structure
The universal syllable structure CV represents the optimal syllable. Deviant syllable structures are analyzed as based on the CV model and built up upon it according to Jakobson's principle of unilateral foundation (in this case, not of oppositions, but of contrasts).
The phonotactic complexity of syllable structure is articulated in three subdomains:
a) Complexity of onset: The basic (unmarked) onset is a single obstruent. More complex onsets lead to initial consonant clusters. Latin here allows moderate complexity, which, during its history, tends to get further reduced.
b) Complexity of nucleus: The basic (unmarked) nucleus is a single short vowel. More complex nuclei involve long vowels and diphthongs. In its history, Latin comes ever closer to this ideal.
c) Complexity of (rest of) rhyme: The basic (unmarked) rhyme reduces to the nucleus. More complex rhymes involve consonant clusters that tend to be symmetrical to initial ones, but less complex than these. Latin here is unusual in allowing relatively complex rhymes, which, however, tend to get reduced in the language history.
2. Syllable structure and morpheme structure
There is a universal tendency to mark the left morpheme boundary of a stem as a syllable boundary, while the right stem boundary tends to get blurred by syllable structure. Latin (as well as Romance languages) may be characterized by going relatively far in blurring morphological boundaries, even left stem boundaries and, thus, word boundaries, by 'liaison'.
3. Syllable structure processes
Syllable structure processes tend to target CV structure, by removing hiatus and simplifying consonant clusters produced by combinations of words and morphemes. They are counteracted by processes such as syncope, which complicate syllable structure. While both kinds of processes exist in Latin, the former predominate. Some of their results are phonologized in the history of the language, with the consequence of simplifying the phonotaxis of the syllable.
References
- Angoujard, Jean-Pierre 1997, Théorie de la syllabe. Rhytme et qualité. Paris: CNRS (Sciences du Langage).
- Greenberg, Joseph H. 1965, "Some generalizations concerning initial and final consonant sequences." Linguistics 18:5-34.
- Pulgram, Ernst 1970, Syllable, word, nexus, cursus. The Hague & Paris: Mouton.
- Zirin, Ronald A. 1970, The phonological basis of Latin prosody. The Hague & Paris: Mouton (Janua linguarum, series practica, 99).
Most recent modifications: February 18, 2003 – latling@classics.unibo.it
Source: Dipartimento di Filologia Classica e Medioevale
No rights can be derived from the information on this Internet-page.
- 1. phonotaxis of syllable structure,
- 2. correspondence of syllable structure to morpheme structure,
- 3. syllable structure processes.
1. Phonotaxis of syllable structure
The universal syllable structure CV represents the optimal syllable. Deviant syllable structures are analyzed as based on the CV model and built up upon it according to Jakobson's principle of unilateral foundation (in this case, not of oppositions, but of contrasts).
The phonotactic complexity of syllable structure is articulated in three subdomains:
a) Complexity of onset: The basic (unmarked) onset is a single obstruent. More complex onsets lead to initial consonant clusters. Latin here allows moderate complexity, which, during its history, tends to get further reduced.
b) Complexity of nucleus: The basic (unmarked) nucleus is a single short vowel. More complex nuclei involve long vowels and diphthongs. In its history, Latin comes ever closer to this ideal.
c) Complexity of (rest of) rhyme: The basic (unmarked) rhyme reduces to the nucleus. More complex rhymes involve consonant clusters that tend to be symmetrical to initial ones, but less complex than these. Latin here is unusual in allowing relatively complex rhymes, which, however, tend to get reduced in the language history.
2. Syllable structure and morpheme structure
There is a universal tendency to mark the left morpheme boundary of a stem as a syllable boundary, while the right stem boundary tends to get blurred by syllable structure. Latin (as well as Romance languages) may be characterized by going relatively far in blurring morphological boundaries, even left stem boundaries and, thus, word boundaries, by 'liaison'.
3. Syllable structure processes
Syllable structure processes tend to target CV structure, by removing hiatus and simplifying consonant clusters produced by combinations of words and morphemes. They are counteracted by processes such as syncope, which complicate syllable structure. While both kinds of processes exist in Latin, the former predominate. Some of their results are phonologized in the history of the language, with the consequence of simplifying the phonotaxis of the syllable.
- References
- Angoujard, Jean-Pierre 1997, Théorie de la syllabe. Rhytme et qualité. Paris: CNRS (Sciences du Langage).
- Greenberg, Joseph H. 1965, "Some generalizations concerning initial and final consonant sequences." Linguistics 18:5-34.
- Pulgram, Ernst 1970, Syllable, word, nexus, cursus. The Hague & Paris: Mouton.
- Zirin, Ronald A. 1970, The phonological basis of Latin prosody. The Hague & Paris: Mouton (Janua linguarum, series practica, 99).
Most recent modifications: February 18, 2003 – latling@classics.unibo.it
Source: Dipartimento di Filologia Classica e Medioevale
No rights can be derived from the information on this Internet-page.