Velar processes and their representation in phonology
Abstract
This study examines the phonological behaviour of velars in various systems. It is believed that the phenomena collected from a number of languages follow from the internal structure of velar segments. These alternations reveal that any independent place elements are superfluous in the phonological expression of velars. It will be shown that a highly constrained theory of skeletal structure (VC Phonology), and an equally constrained theory of elemental composition (tier geometry), can account for the facts. The velar place of articulation is thus not phonologically relevant as being opposed to a coronal or labial place of articulation.