The other approximants possible in second position in the onset are /r/ and /l/. When the obstruent consonant occupying initial position in such combinations is a stop, it may be either a voiced or a voiceless consonant. However, when it is a fricative, it must be [-voice] and [+anterior], i.e. it must be either /f/ or /s/. The allowed onset clusters involving initial stops are /pr/, /br/, /pl/, /bl/, /ʧr/ , /ʤr/ , /kr/, /gr/, /kl/, /l/. Those involving initial fricative consonants are /fr/, /fl/ and /sl/.

Absent from the combinations listed above, though theoretically possible based on the cluster formation constraints mentioned, are /tr/, /dr/, /tl/, /dl/ and /sr/. This absence can be explained by a constraint which blocks onset clusters of consonants specified underlyingly for the features [anterior] and [coronal]. If, however, this constraint is interpreted to apply at the phonetic level instead, the way is open for the clusters involving initial phonetically alveopalatal affricates followed by [ɹ] , i.e. [ʧr] and [ʤr] , to be regarded by speakers as the surface output of underlying /tr/ and /dr/ clusters. This would produce a merger between the phonetic outputs of underlying /tr/ and /ʧr/ , and /dr/ and /ʤr/ . Members of each pair would be realized phonetically as [ʧr] and [ʤr] respectively.

We have already seen a fusing of /tj/ and /ʧ/ realized as [ʧ] , and of /dj/ and /ʤ/ , realized as [ʤ] . Where the phonetic realizations [ʧɹ] and [ʤɹ] are interpreted as involving the phonetic realization of an underlyingly /tjr/ and /djr/, this would violate the constraint on there being no more than two consonants in the onset. This explains the fact, observed by Wells (1973: 10) that “/tr, dr/ are not altogether consistently contrastive with /ʧ/ and /ʤ/ ”. This he illustrates with some examples, e.g. the variation between [ʧruu] ~ [ʧuu] ‘true’, the latter homophonous with [ʧuu]  ‘chew’, and /ʤraa/ ~ /ʤaa/ ‘draw’, the latter homophonous with [ʤaa] ‘jaw’. In each of the preceding pairs, the first form is based on an underlying /tr/ and /dr/ whereas the second is based on an adaptation of unacceptable underlying /tjr/ and /djr/ clusters.

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

ملتقى الكوثر الثالث يشهد عرض مشهد حواري بعنوان شريك العمر أم شريك الفكر؟

إقامة مسابقة (مرفأ النور) العلمية للمشاركات في فعاليات ملتقى الكوثر بنسخته الثالثة

ضمن ملتقى الكوثر الثالث.. ورشة تسلط الضوء على بناء الوعي القرآني لدى النساء

شعبة فاطمة بنت أسد (عليها السلام): ملتقى الكوثر منصةً لتحقيق وعي أسري مستند للقرآن الكريم

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

نظام غذائي شائع قد يؤدي إلى ارتفاع الكوليسترول الضار

تحذيرات هامة من عواقب تناول "أيبوبروفين" مع أدوية شائعة

علامات مبكرة للإيبولا يمكن الخلط بينها وبين الإنفلونزا

خبراء: الفيروسات مثل هانتا وإيبولا أصبحت أكثر شيوعا وفتكاً

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

الليلة.. هلال القمر يلتقي كوكبي الزهرة والمشتري

إيلون ماسك يخسر دعواه القضائية أمام أوبن إيه.آي

مهمة فضائية "أوروبية صينية" لكشف أسرار الرياح الشمسية

انتهاء رحلة "السفينة الموبوءة".. وهذا مصير من بقي على متنها

المزيد