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Strict CV17casual relation between the relevant environment and the observed phenomena.To put it differently, in the previous approaches the fact thatconsonants decomplexify in the coda must be regarded as a pure coincidence.On the other hand, in the Strict CV model the explanation of suchphenomena falls out naturally from the syllable structure. Note that,since the traditional coda is replaced here by a position before a governedempty nucleus, the weakness of the former follows from the emptinessof the latter. This implication seems quite natural as it is generallyaccepted by almost all GP researchers that empty nuclei are devoid oflicensing power or, at least, that it is smaller than that of a filled one.Another consequence of dismantling the syllable structure which deservescomment is the increase in the number of empty nuclei. Since it iscommonly agreed that you cannot get an empty category for free, thismodel has to come up with means to keep such nuclei quiet. Interestinglyenough, the doubled number of empty positions does not call for extradevices or heavy machinery. On the contrary, the facts can be neatly coveredby means of the two aforementioned relations, that is, Governmentand Licensing.Finally, it must be clarified here that the theoretical model adoptedin this book is the one developed by Scheer (1998a, 1999a, 2004). Itdoes not mean, however, that this is the only option to choose from. Onthe contrary, there are quite a few versions of the Strict CV model whichsometimes differ quite radically from the one advocated here. Thus, theidea that the syllable structure boils down to a strict alternation of nonbranchingnuclei and onsets has been pursued by many phonologists, forexample, Polgárdi (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003), Rennison (1999a),Rowicka (1999a, 2001), Szigetvári (1999, 2001), Dienes andSzigetvári (1999), and Cyran (2001, 2003).In the remainder of this work we shall look more deeply at certainphenomena in Polish and English phonotactics. It will become clear thatin situations where certain facts have already received a GP explanation,e.g. Polish word-initial consonant sequences (Gussmann and Cyran1998, Cyran and Gussmann 1999), the Strict CV alternativeproposal is not just a theoretical exercise boiling down to mere repartitioningof the branching constituents into non-branching ones. On thecontrary, there are some reasons why we believe this step is necessary.Firstly, the model adopted here is not only able to capture the same factsas GP, but it does it better from the explanatory and simplicity point ofview. After all, the GP analysis of Polish word-initial clusters resemblesthe Strict CV account in that the vast majority of complex initial sequencesmust be represented as a strict alternation of non-branching onsetsand non-branching nuclei. Secondly and more importantly, the Strict CV2 Polish...