Positional Neutralization - Linguistics - University of California ...

opposite pattern in both phonetic studies and patterns of resistance to reduction and
assimilation phenomena which should otherwise have targeted the resistant final vowel.
As for Final Resistance, the foregoing shows clear phonetic motivations for the existence
of such a pattern. Studies like that of Johnson and Martin, though, provoke questions
about the universality of the implementational aspects of final lengthening which give
rise to it. The topic of reduction in final position is taken up again in section 3.6 below.
3.2.3.2. Syllable structure effects on Final Resistance
In discussion of the phonetics and phonology of final lengthening effects I have
thus far alluded to, but not addressed directly the role of syllable structure in the
implementation of lengthening. Looking at the typology of Final Strength effects in the
phonology of vowel systems, a clear pattern emerges. In the overwhelming majority of
cases in which final syllables behave as strong licensers in one way or another, Final
Strength occurs only in final open syllables (which is to say, affects only absolute word-
final vowels). There are very few uncontroversial cases of Final Strength effects in both
open and closed final syllables, and none to my knowledge operating solely in final
closed syllables, with final open syllables behaving as weak. Of the first type listed above
are Hausa, Russian and Belorussian, nearly all dialects of Ukrainian where reduction
exists at all, Brazilian Portuguese, Eastern Mari, Uyghur, Catalan, English, Maltese,
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