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Germanic umlaut from a physiological and phonological point of view: Prolegomena to a theory of sound change
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2008
Abstract
This paper represents a return to the theme of Germanic umlaut, umlaut in general, and sound change in general. It invokes first the concept of the parameter, then the concept of parametric inertia. That is, since all parameters are produced by physical organs, they are governed by inertia, and this allows a (phonetic) explanation of assimilation (including umlaut) and dissimilation. Further, the concept of a hierarchy of parameters based on a phonetically most similar notion is developed to replace the unworkable phonetically similar criterion in classical phonemics.
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- Copyright © Society for Germanic Linguistics 1990