Syllable structure and phonotactics

The chapter focuses on syllable structure and phonotactics, starting with Icelandic and discussing the motivation for assuming the syllable and subsyllabic constituents as structural entities. Among phenomena relevant in these considerations are the Icelandic length rule and the so‐called half length and overlength, both relevant to the way stress is realized. Faroese syllable structure is then discussed from the same point of view, and a template for the length rule in Faroese as it functions in full syllables is presented. Half length and overlength are also shown to occur in Faroese. There is a special discussion of the status of full syllables and restricted syllables in the phonological hierarchy. The remainder of the chapter is devoted to consonantal phonotactics, giving an overview of the permissible onsets and codas in each language. There is a special section on the analysis of gemination of glides and consonants.