Prepalatals in Arandic

Abstract

This paper considers the phonological analysis of a phonetic sequence [Vowel+High front vowel+Consonant], generally referred to under the term ‘prepalatal’, in Arandic. There are four hypotheses as to the possible phonological status of this sequence. Each of these hypotheses has advantages and disadvantages. This paper shows that the overall evidence favours one of the hypotheses. The ‘cost’ of this favoured hypothesis lies in an increase in the complexity and the irregularity of Arandic phonotactics. As such, this paper establishes that neither simplicity nor regularity in phonotactics are necessarily primary considerations in phonological analysis.