----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
To: "NOSTRATICA" <mail@...>; "NOSTRATIC-E"
<nostratic@yahoogroups.com>; "NOSTRATIC-L" <Nostratic-L@yahoogroups.com>;
"MOTHER TONGUE" <MTLR@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 8:27 AM
Subject: Re: LAPIS PHILOSOPHORUM (2)


>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
> To: "NOSTRATIC-E" <nostratic@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 8:08 AM
> Subject: Fw: LAPIS PHILOSOPHORUM
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
> > To: "NOSTRATICA" <mail@...>; "NOSTRATIC-L"
> > <Nostratic-L@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:16 AM
> > Subject: RE: LAPIS PHILOSOPHORUM
> >
> >
>
> <...>
>
> > > My first premise will be that the phonological inventory of the
> > > Proto-Language can be determined as a working hypothesis through the
> > > application of the
> > >
> > > -Law of Linguistic Entropy-,
> > >
> > > which will state:
> > >
> > > ONLY THE _LEAST_ NECESSARY EFFORT TO ACHIEVE EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION
> > > WILL BE MADE.
>
> The first corollary of the Law of Linguistic Entropy is:
>
> 1) Maximal contrast facilitates efficient communication with the least
> necessary effort.
>
>
> The first application of this corollary is:
>
> 1) A vocalic system with maximal contrast consists of a vowel pronounced
> in each of three positions: front, central, and back: *E, *A, *O (at any
> height).
>
> 2) A consonantal system with maximal contrast consist of consonants
> pronounced in each of six positions: labial, apical, apical flapped,
> dorsal, laryngal, and pharyngal: *P, *T, *R, *K, *H, *HH.


3) Maximal contrast is also provided by orality and nasality; all
positions that produce a consonantal nasal received one: *P, *M, *T, *N, *R,
*K, *Q, *H, *HH.

4) Maximal contrast is also provided by closure (obstruent) as against
fricative (approximant): *P, *M, *F, *T, *N, *S, *R, *K, *Q, *X, *H, *?,
*HH, *¿.


Patrick