SV assimilation in Catalan and the implications for an asymmetrical *NC constraint

This paper reviews the facts about the proposed asymmetry of the *NC constraint, that is, the constraint against nasal-voicless obstruent sequences proposed by Pater (1996). The analysis presented in this paper is framed within a theory, which includes the feature SV (sonorant voicing) in the representation of sonorants and possibly voiced obstruents. I first reexamine the facts motivating the *NC contraint and the effects it triggers. Then, I illustrate the existence of a constraint on voiceless obstruent-nasal sequences (*CN), and argue that this constraint is better represented as a constraint on sequences of a voiceless obstruent followed by an SV-bearing consonant (*C-SV). Finally, I will show that the *NC constraint can also be redefined as a *SV-C constraint, thus showing the actual symmetry of the two constraints.