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26 The frameworklateral relations, that is, in the Strict CV model. Finally, it has beensuggested that the postulation of final empty nuclei could be perceivedas a general consequence of replacing the boundary markers, both initialand final, with fully phonological objects. Before we provide some evidencedemonstrating the legitimacy of this move in the word-initial positionin Polish (Chapter Two) and English (Chapter Three), let us brieflynote some unanswered questions concerning the word-initial consonantclusters.4. Shortcomings of the Sonority Sequencing Principle4.1. IntroductionThe observation that languages differ according to the consonant sequencesthey allow for is trivial and hence may be considered as unattractive.Moreover, the bookshelves full of literature devoted to the phonotacticsof individual languages may discourage the prospective researcherfrom exploring the problem. The general conclusion emerging fromthe previous studies is that the vast majority of languages observe theSonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) (3), with some minor, language specificadjustments like, for example, minimal sonority distance, appendicesor extrasyllabicity.(3) Sonority Sequencing Principle (Blevins 1995:210)Between any member of a syllable and the syllable peak, a sonorityrise or plateau must occur.Although generally accepted, the SSP as postulated by, for example, Blevins(1995), Selkirk (1982, 1984), and Clements (1990) may becriticised for being merely an observational fact which does not reflectany internal character of phonological segments. 12 In other words,the sonority profile is just an arbitrarily postulated scale which does notplay any active role in phonological processing. In addition, SSP has been12Cyran (2003) rightly points out that the strength-based models (Vennemann1972, 1988, Foley 1977, Murray 1988) suffer from the same weakness.