Re: Tonal Languages taken to extremes

Nik Taylor wrote:
>Andreas Johansson wrote:
> > In other words, you didn't intend to allow syllables only consisting of
>a
> > vowel! That'd be slightly remarkable, wouldn't it?
>
>There are languages which require onsets.  In fact, I think Arabic is an
>example.  I know that Arabic words can't *begin* with a vowel, things
>like al- are actually pronounced with an initial glottal stop.
Is this just a phonetic requirement, or does words have to begin in a
phonemic consonants? (In other words, is that glottal stop phonemic, or is
it just there to prevent a phonetically initial vowel?)

                                                         Andreas


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