Re: [tied] the rhythm and stress in Latin

From: P&G
Message: 12179
Date: 2002-01-29

>If we redefine these rules in terms of moras, the rule is simpler: "Stress
falls always in the >penultimate mora anteceding last vowel (conditionlas
are removed from this rule!)"

Some problems:
(a) Why should the moraic length of the last vowel be ignored, if the accent
rule is moraic? A syllabic rule does not have that problem.

(b) You also have to handle words such as illuc, with accent on the last
syllable (!)

(c) In words like deductum you apparently would count "c" as moraic, and in
words like remitto, the first "t" as moraic, which is not particularly nice.
The traditional rule which looks at open and closed syllables avoids that
problem.

(d) You would have to add a rule that a resonant (indeed any consonant!) is
"moraic" before another consonant, but non-moraic before another vowel.
There is no evidence of such different pronunciation in these contexts.

(e) In words such as "solvit" your analysis suggests so.l.vit, but we know
that in fact it was the "v", not the "l" which was liable to pick up extra
syllabicity: sol-uit.

And what do you mean by removing "conditionals" from your rule?

Peter