Warm climates and sonority classes: not simply more vowels and fewer consonants

Cross-Cultural Research • Vol/Iss. 43 • Published In • Pages: 123-133 •
By Munroe, Robert L., Fought, John G., Macaulay, Ronald K.S.

Abstract

This article adds nuanced findings to the previous generalization that high sonority of the vowel explains its more frequent use in warmer climates. The authors find that “speakers in warm-climate languages make more use of the so-called “sonorant” consonants, that is, consonants with some of the qualities of vowels” (123).
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Amelia Piazza