Ch 7

The use of a large phonological database to test hypotheses about cross-language pattern
The development of the hypothesis
1. The humanistic principle that languages are equal in serving communicative demands
2. Principle of equal complexity
3. Languages will undergo adjustments to equalize their overall complexity across different subsystems
(Rejected by the comparisons conducted in this research)
a. Historical processes
b. Processing considerations
The properties to be examined
a. The complexity of the maximal syllable structure the language permits
b. The complexity of the tone system
c. The consonant inventory size
d. The vowel-quality inventory size
e. The total vowel-inventory size