Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2009
Phonological models of feature geometry suggest that the internal structure of segments is highly articulated. Distinctive features are organized hierarchically within the segment, and this hierarchical organization is relatively stable across and within languages. Much recent work has been devoted to determining the precise location of place of articulation features within the hierarchy. In this study, the distinctive feature [lateral] is the focus of investigation. Though [lateral] is often considered a manner feature, it is usually associated with coronal articulations. By examining the behaviour of coronal and velar laterals in phonological rules and constraints, evidence emerges that [lateral] is a terminal feature of the coronal node within the feature tree.
I thank Diana Archangeli, Morris Halle, Jim Harris, Pat Keating, Mike Kenstowicz, Bjorn Lindblom, John McCarthy, Armin Mester, Pat Shaw, Richard Sproat, Moira Yip, and audiences at the LSA Winter Meeting 1987, The University of Texas at Austin Linguistics Colloquium 1988, the Arizona Phonology Conference 1988, and the UCSD Linguistics Colloquium 1989 for helpful suggestions and criticisms of earlier versions of this paper. An early version of this paper, Levin (1988), was circulated in manuscript form and generated considerable response. Section 5 of this paper deals with criticisms of this manuscript which have appeared over the past several years.