[split] An interview with Stephen Bax - 1 to 1 substitution discussion

[Emma May Smith]

How many natural languages have restrictions as severe as these as to a character's position in a word? I've done a very extensive search of languages trying to find something that is even half as restrictive and have not, so far.

Lots.

English, for example, only allows /ng/ in the syllable coda and it must come immediately after the vowel. Also, /h/ is only allowed in the syllable onset and only in combination with a semivowel.

And English is nowhere near the most restrictive language on Earth. Indeed, it is relatively liberal.