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Three-consonant sequences63Both in (20a) and (20b) the last two consonants of the initial cluster fulfilthe requirements to contract the IG relation, hence, the empty nucleusseparating them is licensed. On the other hand, the initial empty nucleusis properly governed by the first available nucleus. This analysisseems quite correct as it is further confirmed by prefixed forms. In section2.1 we arrived at the conclusion that consonant clusters separatedby the properly governed empty nucleus vocalise the prefix vowel. Insome cases the existence of properly governed nuclei is confirmed by thevowel-zero alternation in related forms. Given these facts we are in a positionto test in the same way the forms under (19a, b). The forms in(19b) where the first four examples are closely related, i.e. [tkn]¹æ —[tkl']iwy, [t¡sk­]iæ — [t¡skl ® ]iwy, give the results represented under (21). 13(21)tkn¹ætchn¹æpchn¹æ‘touch’‘breathe’‘push’prefixed ipf.od+tykaæod+dychaæod+pychaæprefixed pf.ze+tkn¹æode+tchn¹æode+pchn¹æThe first column illustrates clusters which are separated by a properlygoverned empty nucleus. This is confirmed by forms under the secondcolumn where the same clusters appear with the phonetically realisedvowel. Finally, the examples in the third column further confirm thisanalysis. The fact that the prefix vowel is realised phonetically betraysthe presence of the properly governed empty nucleus between the firsttwo consonants of the initial sequence. The same holds true for some ofthe forms in (19a) above, that is, they also exhibit the realisation of theprefix vowel, e.g. mdliæ — zemdliæ ‘nauseate/pf.’, mdleæ — zemdleæ ‘faint/pf.’, etc. In short, the realisation of the prefix vowel presupposes the presenceof the properly governed empty nucleus in the vicinity. A word ofcomment is needed concerning forms like pch³a — pche³ ‘flea/gen.pl.’ andmg³a — mgie³ ‘fog/gen.pl.’ These forms host vowel-zero alternations, hence,the vowel is predicted to be present lexically. When appearing in zerograde, the vowel must be properly governed (recall the discussion in section2). Note, however, that the alternating vowel is the one between thelast two consonants of the cluster. Thus, in the genitive plural the finalconsonants are separated by [e], e.g. pche³, mgie³, which means that inthe nominative such vowels must be properly governed. As a matter offact, the vowel alternating with zero is neither lexically present nor properlygoverned. Were it lexically there, the initial nucleus in mg³a, i.e.13It should be mentioned here that ‘-liwy’ is the adjectival suffix observed in formslike, for example, wadliwy — wada ‘defective/defect’.