ABSTRACT
The structure of the Caodeng syllable is (C)(C)(C)V(C)(C). The language shows a preference for complex syllable-initial clusters, while the nucleus and coda positions are normally filled by only one segment. The following system of simple initial consonants can be established (items enclosed in parentheses are marginal or non-native segments):
An enormous number of initial clusters are attested, including many three-member clusters. Caodeng phonology treats nasal + voiceless stop combinations as consonant clusters, but nasal + voiced stop combinations as unitary prenasalized stops. The consonants permitted as syllable codas are -ν, -t, -γ, -m, -n, -ŋ, -r, -l, -j, and -s. The coda -r is often devoiced while the -s is usually voiced. The lateral coda -l is distinctly laminodental. Syllables may also take
(1) p t c k q ph th ch kh qh b d Ü g nb nd nÜ ng nG
ts t tʃ tsh t h tʃh (dz) (d) (d*) ndz nd nd*
m n ŋ (f) s ( ) ʃ x χ v z * γ ʁ
r
(() l
w j
cluster coda in the language. Syllables carrying a glottal coda behave phonologically like checked syllables with regard to accent placement.
