THEORY: picking nits [was Re: average syllables per word?]

On Sat, 26 Jun 1999, Fabian wrote:

> After all, English has a
> huge number of valid syllables, many of which aren't even used - twoib
> being an example.
Actually, 'twoib' is not a possible English syllable. Consider: words
which begin with [tw] cannot have a round vowel following (we pronounce
'two' as [tu], after all, and get rid of that [w]), and the only
consonants allowed following the diphthongs [oi] and [aw] are alveolar;
they can never be of any other place of articulation. So 'twib' would be
a fine English word, or even 'toin', but never 'twoib'. [Caveat lector:
the forgoing information is my recollection of an English phonology
seminar I participated in about 3 years ago; counterexamples are
probable and welcome!]

However, your point is still valid; there's plenty of room for more
English words and syllables. Lewis Carroll showed us that in
Jabberwocky, and Jack Vance shows us that with every novel he has
written; personal names in his stories are outstanding examples of
possible but unattested words of English.

Dirk

--
Dirk Elzinga
dirk.elzinga@m.cc.utah.edu                   "All grammars leak."
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~elzinga/                 -Edward Sapir