The palatal element hides in (some) non-palatals: the case of Mandarin Chinese

This paper deals with restrictions holding between onsets and rimes in Mandarin Chinese words. Based on general principles of the theory of Government Phonology it proposes a new melodic structure of the Chinese onset segmental inventory and provides an explanation for traditional systematic gaps in the distribution of i-rimes. The proposal follows the idea that i is never lexically present in the vocalic part of the syllable, but always originates in the preceding consonant (as an operator I). While I operator is responsible for the i-glide in i-rimes, I head prohibits its occurence.