The representation of geminate consonants remains a controversial
topic
in phonological theory. In a skeletal theoretic approach, for example,
a
geminate is represented as bipositional: a single root node multiply linked
to two skeletal positions, as in (1) (see e.g. Clements & Keyser 1983,
Levin
1985).
formula here
Conversely, in moraic theory, geminates are inherently moraic (see e.g.
Hayes 1989, 1995, Davis 1994, 1996). Thus, an underlying geminate
consonant differs from a single consonant of the same quality in terms
of
a mora, as shown in (2):
formula here
It is noteworthy that evidence bearing on the representation of geminates
has thus far come predominantly from the patterning of intervocalic
geminates, where the first part of a geminate occurs in coda position.
Discussion of syllable-initial geminates, on the other hand, has received
little attention in the literature.