The phonological rule "A word cannot begin with two stop consonants" is:
A) an adequate description of a phonological pattern
B) inadequate, in that it does not take syntax and semantics into account
C) inadequate, since the pattern can be described more generally
D) inadequate, since it is possible, though rare, for a sentence to begin with two stop consonants

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This rule is an adequate description of a phonological pattern in many languages, where it's observed that words do not typically start with two stop consonants. This is a statement about phonological structure, not syntax or semantics, and it doesn't imply that there are no exceptions, just that it's a general pattern.

The Phonological Rule "A Word Cannot Begin with Two Stop