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92 The phonological nature of the beginning of the wordThus, phonetically interpreted nuclear positions can govern the precedingV position either if the latter is melodically empty or if it is occupiedby the alternating vowel (Proper Government); in case it is occupiedby a non-alternating vowel the nuclear position strikes the precedingconsonant (Government). Additionally, phonetically realised nuclearpositions can also license, but this time the target is always the precedingconsonant position. Unpronounced nuclear positions are inert, thatis, they neither license nor govern. 30 Thus, the theory makes the followingpredictions about the phonological strength of consonantal positions.(47) Strong positions: are licensed but ungovernedWeak positions: are either unlicensed or governed.For a position to be licensed, it must be followed by a phonetically realisednuclear position (45). This means that all traditional codas are unlicensed,therefore weak, since they occur before an empty nucleus whichis not a potential licensor (46).To sum up, the only way for a consonantal position to retain its fullstrength is to be followed by an audible vowel and be preceded by anempty nuclear position, the situation displayed in (45). Weak positions,as we have seen in (46), are of two types: either unlicensed when followedby an empty governed nucleus or licensed and governed when boththe following and the preceding nuclear positions are linked to somemelodic material, i.e. the intervocalic position. The fourth possibility,namely, governed and unlicensed, is logically impossible in this system,as this would require the consonantal position to be followed simultaneouslyby an active, governing nucleus and at the same time an inert,non-licensing nucleus.After this rather lengthy introduction to the theory of lenition, weare finally in a position to suggest a solution to the realisation of softlabials in the Kurp dialect.30The licensing/governing ability of word-final empty nuclei is parameterised (seesection 3 in Chapter One).