02 Mar 2004

Patrick Honeybone (English Language)

Two sets of assumptions are common in phonological theory in connection with obstruent laryngeal specifications: (i) where a language has a contrast between two series of both plosives and fricatives, their laryngeal states are characterised in the same way; and (ii) except where obvious glottalisation is involved, this contrast is made either by the privative presence vs absence of a 'voicing' gesture/element/feature, or by a binary feature [+/- voice].

In this work-in-progress talk, I explore a set of issues which arise when both these assumptions are rejected. I believe that, if (ii) is rejected, a neat explanation arises for certain developments in the fricatives of Old English; I go on to show that, if this is correct, (ii) must also be rejected to account for the fricatives of Present-Day English. Finally, I show that certain other historical developments make this scenario highly plausible.

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