MORPHOPHONEMIC EXCEPTIONS AND PHONETIC DISTANCE

A given morphophonemic alternation set often includes individual alternations where the phonetic distance between the alternants is greater in some pairs than in others. We hypothesize that, where such a difference in phonetic distance exists, the alternation will be more likely to be lost when the phonetic distance is greater. This is illustrated by examples from Welsh (Lenition), Finnish (Consonant Gradation), Hungarian (Palatalization), and Turkish (Velar Softening). Alternative explanations, in particular avoidance of ambiguity, are shown to be insufficient, as is the view that the existence of exceptions to certain pairs in an alternation set necessitates the recognition of distinct rules, one exceptionless and the other violable. © 1979, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.