LIN376H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Allophone, Gemination, Syllable
Document Summary
Geminates are formed by holding the articulatory position steady for two timing units rather than one. Geminates are written with a double letter, but in french, double letters don"t represent a geminate. Everywhere except in italian and sardinian, long consonants degeminated, becoming plain consonants. Besides preserving original latin geminates, italian also creates new ones by assimilation: , ) are automatically long when intervocalic, because they derive from clusters occupying two timing units. There is a weakening known as lenition, from latin lenis gentle", as in lenient, which affects the original latin plain stops in unprotected position. Consonants are ranked according to articulatory effort, which depends on manner of articulation. Stops, which completely stop the air flow, are stronger than fricatives, which allow air to pass through. The geminates are strongest because it prolongs the interruption. Fricatives don"t obstruct the air flow completely and differ even less from their vocalic surroundings.
