The contrastive hierarchy in phonology 2009 Dresher.pdf - CUNY ...

(7.24) Turkish vowel system
coronal non-coronal
non-labial labial non-labial labial
high i y ˆ u
low e O a o
The theory predicts, therefore, that all round vowels could potentially be
triggers of labial harmony in such languages. This prediction is correct, though
harmony observes limitations that are not due to contrast, but to other factors.
That is, having a contrastive feature is a necessary but not sufficient condition for
triggering harmony. We find a variety of labial harmony patterns, where high
vowels are favoured as triggers and targets, for reasons unrelated to contrast
(Korn 1969, Kaun 1995).
In Turkish, for example, harmony triggers can be high or low, but targets
are typically limited to high vowels. In Kachin Khakass (Korn 1969), with the
same vowel inventory, both triggers and targets of labial harmony must be high,
the opposite of the Manchu-Tungus-Eastern Mongolian pattern.
7.4.4. Nez Perce 20
Nez Perce, a Penutian language of the Pacific Northwest in the United States, is
another language that displays ATR harmony, though of a different character
20 This section is based on Mackenzie 2002 and Mackenzie and Dresher 2004.
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