Re: On Phonological Constraints: The Long Vowel Rule

This might not be what you are looking for, but here
goes: if it's causing you toruble, drop it. End of. If
the resultant ripples brought of this chance are
unpalatable, go back to the rule and either devise
another workaround or just live with it.

If it doesn't work, it has to go, I'm afraid.


 --- Nicolas Walker <Bitemeagain_walker@...>
wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> I continue to play with a rather odd little
> phonological constraint, which
> despite the fact that it has caused me nothing but
> trouble since its
> conception, I remain unable to shake it! I'd love to
> hear your suggestions.
>
> The rule states that a long vowel (marked by an
> acute accent) cannot occur
> immediately after a consonant which is proceeded by
> a long vowel. That is
> to say, that the combination 'LV + C + LV' is deemed
> unacceptable. The
> rough reason for this infernal rule is due to the
> (regular) stress falling
> on the first long vowel of a word. Two stressed,
> long vowels are
> considered unweildy and undesirable.
>
> The second part of the rule therefore proposes that
> should the combination
> LV + C + LV occur (as a result of affixation,
> declension or whatever),
> that the first vowel be shortened, causing the
> sequence SV + C + SV. To
> give an example, u:r (=ear) would become uri:r in
> the plural genitive.
> Furthermore, the shift to a short 'o' changes the
> quality of the vowel -
> e.g. ano:r in the locative case is rendered anaro:r.
>
> It was only after enacting the rule that I came
> accross an infinate number
> of little problems, such as consonantal
> combinations, the length of the
> vowel changing word meaning (i.e. how to
> differentiate a:va (you) and a:va
> (sea), and what to do when a 'long prefix' is
> attached to an inflected
> noun...and so on. Can someone suggest something
> elegant yet more flexible?
>
=====
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.

	-- William Butler Yeats


	
	
		
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