The Study of Phonotactics in Sistani Balo:chi Dialect Based on Generative Phonology

The purpose of this research is to study phonotactics in Sistani Balo:chi dialect based on Generative Phonology. A data corpus was collected from a number of Sistani Balo:ch speakers. The results show that there are consonant clusters both in onset and coda. These consonant clusters include constraints in onset and coda. Therefore, consonants which have [-sonorant] feature cannot occur as the second member of the onset in simple and compound words. Also, two consonants with the same place of articulation cannot make cluster in onset. [r] and [w] as the second member of onset and [n] and [r] as the first member of coda are the most frequent consonants respectively. The low and front vowel [a] is the most frequent as the nucleus of syllables which have cluster in onset and coda. Obstruents, nasals and liquids are the most frequent as the second member in coda. Sonority Sequencing Principle is verified in consonant clusters of the onset and the codas which have long vowels of [i, e:, u, o:, ɑ] as the nucleus but SSP may be rejected in consonant clusters of the codas which have short vowels of [a, ɩ, ʊ] as the nucleus.