Re: Phonology: How to classify /l/ and /r/

En réponse à Fredrik Ekman <ekman@...>:

>
> Yes, well, I understand that. What I meant is that there has to be a
> reason why the particular sounds [r] and [l] seem to be relatively
> frequently merged into one phoneme rather than, say, [r] and [f]. Or
> [l]
> and [j]. I understand that this has to do with the relationships
> between
> different sounds, but I just do not understand what the relationship
> between [r] and [l] is.
>
As Muke explained already in complex terms, they are close phonologically.
Basically, same PoA, same voiceness, both continuants.

>
> And what if I choose to divide the group into two, where /r/ and /l/
> form
> one group and /w/ and /j/ make up the other? Could I use "liquids" for
> the
> first and "approximants" for the second?
>
Yep. That's how they are classified in French :) .

Christophe.

http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr

Take your life as a movie: do not let anybody else play the leading role.