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78 The phonological nature of the beginning of the wordIn (34) the syllabic consonant [r] spreads onto the preceding nuclear position.This nucleus is not empty any more and so can serve as a propergovernor to the prefix vowel. In consequence, the prefix final vocalic positionremains unvocalised.As already mentioned, Polish trapped consonants differ from syllabiccognates as far as stress and metrical structure is concerned. Additionally,as pointed out by Scheer (2004), trapped consonants provokevocalisation of the prefix vowel (see again the forms under (31a) above).The latter observation allows Scheer (2004) to suggest a right-branchingrepresentation for trapped consonants (33b). 23(35) PG(C V) C|rV 1|oC|zV 2|eC|dV 3PCrV 4PC|gV 5|aC|t¡‚V 6|PNote that in (35) [r] spreads to the following empty nuclear position V 4.Since it is not empty anymore, it can govern the preceding empty nucleusV 3, as properly governed V 3is not able to govern, and hence thevowel in the prefix surfaces.On the basis of disparate behaviour in metrical structure and stressplacement (previous section) and prefixation (this section) syllabic andtrapped consonants have been assigned two separate representations. 24Syllabic consonants are left-branching structures, while their cognates,i.e. trapped consonants, spread to the right. However, it has become obviousthat the influence trapped consonants exert on the prefix vowel isquite inconsistent. Some prefix vowels are vocalised, while some othersare not. Therefore, in what follows we should attempt to provide a uniformexplanation for both vocalised and unvocalised prefixes occurringbefore trapped consonants.23It is commonly agreed that segments linked to two temporal slots are longer thanthose linked to only one. Consequently, as pointed out to me by Piotr Ruszkiewicz, therepresentation of trapped sonorants is not quite correct. Trapped sonorants, in oppositionto syllabic consonants, are short. I realise and agree that in this aspect the representationof trapped sonorants is problematic.24For some diachronic evidence supporting the directionality of syllabic andtrapped consonants, see Scheer (2004).