Re: ka and k^a

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:

> > In that case, it seems best to make the deduction that, based on
> > what we know (the simplest vowel inventory distinguishing height
> > but not frontness/backness), height is a more fundamental
> > distinction.
> >
> > - Rob
>
> ***
> Patrick:
>
> Since Abkhaz is the _only_ language in the world to have such a
> vowel system, it is completely unwarranted to draw such a
> conclusion from it.

I disagree. Since there seem to be no languages with a two-vowel
inventory such that both vowels have the same height, but one is
front and one is back, the conclusion *based on the evidence at hand*
is that height is a more fundamental distinction.

> The great majority of languages have a front-central-back contrast
> at whatever heights for each member.
>
> ***

The two most common vowel inventories are both triangular in
nature: /i a u/ and /i e a o u/. High vowels tend to have more
frontness/backness contrasts than low vowls.

- Rob