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46 The phonological nature of the beginning of the wordlisation of the prefix vowel. In what follows we look more deeply at theformer test, that is, vowel-zero alternation, while prefixation is dealtwith in the following section.Polish abounds in consonant clusters which resemble branching onsetsin that the obstruent is followed by a sonorant but which are brokenup by an alternating vowel in related forms, e.g. [pr]aæ — [p ® eZ]e, ‘wash,inf.’/‘wash, 3p.sg.’ Such clusters, similarly to those in (1) arise due to theoperation of PG.(3)[kw]a — [k ® ew][kr]a — [k ® er][pr]aæ — [p ® eZ]e[sn]y — [sen][gn]ê — wy[g ® in]aæ[st]o — [set]ny‘tusk, gen.sg. — nom.sg.’‘ice floe, nom.sg. — gen.pl.’‘wash, inf. — 3p.sg.’‘dream, nom.pl. — nom.sg.’‘bend, 1p.sg. — inf.’‘hundred — hundredth’Although most of the examples in (3) could contract IG, e.g. [kw]a or[pr]aæ, they are not able to do so as both consonants are broken up by thealternating vowel [e], i.e. [k ® ew] and [p ® eZe] respectively. Since the alternatingvowels are claimed to be lexically present (Scheer forth.), it isnot possible for the flanking consonants to contract the consonantal relation.Consequently, all vowel-zero alternations, along with the formsin (1), are accounted for by the application of PG. This is illustrated onthe example of [kr]a — [k ® er] given in (4).(4)a. PG b. PG(C V)C|kV 1eC|rV 2|a(C V)In (4b) the final empty nucleus V 2cannot properly govern V 1, as the formeris empty. Consequently, the nuclear position V 1gets associated toits melody. In (4a), on the other hand, the final nucleus V 2is not emptyand so it is able to perform the action, V 1is struck by PG and, in consequence,the association line is severed, leaving the vowel disconnectedand hence phonetically inaudible. 11Cyran (2003) arrives at similar results without resorting to Proper Government.In his model PG is dispensed with completely. Instead the author proposes tointroduce a constraint *P-P which says that two consecutive empty nuclei are not allowed.Since both mechanisms produce the same effects, at least in the forms discussed sofar, we are not going to pursue this idea any further.C|k'V 1|eC|rV 2|P