ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, we have established that strong licensing positions for contour tones are contrast-specific. This chapter primarily addresses the different predictions between the direct approach and the contrast-specific positional markedness approach on the comparability of contour tone bearing ability among multiple positions, all of which induce a greater C Contour value. The predictions of these approaches have been laid out in §3.4. They are recapitulated in (1). Furthermore, we will also see more evidence against the moraic approach.
Within a language, when there are multiple factors that induce greater C Contour values:
The direct approach: their contour tone licensing ability corresponds to the degree of enhancement of C Contour : the greater the C Contour value, the greater the contour tone licensing ability.
The contrast-specific positional markedness approach: any one of the factors may turn out to be the best contour tone licensor, regardless of the degree of phonetic advantage the factor induces as compared to the other factors.
