ABSTRACT
Thus the phonetic tenseness of utterance-initial (s] from /ns/ cannot be attributed to its derivation from underlying /ss/, but must result from the presence of another preceding consonant at the point in derivatons at which the phonetic rule which determines the phonetic tenseness of 8 in clusters applies. This consonant could either be the underlying /n/ itself or the h which is derived from it. Since h seems like the most likely trigger for the aspiration of stops after sites of devoicing, I assume that it is also h which accounts for the tensing that we find in the corresponding cases with 8.
