Why labial-velar stops merge to /gb/*

Most languages with labial-velar stops (i.e. // and //) have both the voiced and voiceless versions, but several dozen languages have only // or only //. Examination of the stop inventories of such languages reveals that in languages which have only // there are always other gaps in the stop inventory, but languages which have only // usually have a full set of other stops, showing that there is a different historical mechanism involved. Also, ‘//-only’ languages are more common than ‘//-only’ languages, despite the cross-linguistic tendency to favour voiceless stops. Comparative studies show that ‘//-only’ languages are often a result of a merger of * and * into //. I propose that this merger is a result of three phonetic characteristics of the phonologically voiceless //, qualities typical of voiced obstruents. Since * is already partly in the ‘voiced camp’, I hypothesise that hearers interpret it as voiced.

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