The dissertation proposes  an amendment to strict CV phonol-
ogy (Lowenstamm 1996), a theory  that views the phonological
skeleton as a string of strictly alternating consonantal (C)
and vocalic positions (V), beginning with a  C and ending in
a V.  Chapter  1 argues for  the usefulness and necessity of
recognizing empty  skeletal   positions.  Chapter 2  surveys
current views  of  syllabic  constituency  and some problems
associated with them.  Two  theories of (consonant) lenition
(Harris 1997  and Segeral &  Scheer 1999) are  introduced in
chapter 3,  accompanied  with some critical  comments.   The
next chapter offers  some  extensions to the latter  theory,
proposing a novel definition  of phonological government and
for the exact content of the C and V  positions of the skel-
eton.   The theory explicated in this  chapter works best if
the skeleton begins with a V and  ends in a C position, fur-
thermore, there evolves evidence that skeletal units are not
CVs but   VCs.  This is  explicated in  chapter 5.  The next
chapter contemplates on  the  status of  consonant  clusters
that can   occur  word-initially without  offering  a  fully
acceptable solution.  Chapter 7 shows the theory at predict-
ing both the  location and the  direction of consonant leni-
tion (towards more   sonorousness or towards lack   of place
and/or laryngeal properties).  The  final chapter is a brief
summary of what this theory calls for in the field of melod-
ic   representation  (the features/particles/elements   that
encode phonetic properties for the place of articulation and
laryngeal characteristics).

references

Harris,  John. 1997.   Licensing inheritance: an  integrated
theory of neutralisation.  Phonology 14: 351--370.

Lowenstamm, Jean. 1996.  CV as the  only syllable type.  In:
Jacques Durand  and Bernard  Laks (eds.)  Current  Trends in
Phonology: Models and Methods.  European Research Institute,
University of Salford Publications.  419--442.

Segeral, Philippe and Tobias Scheer. 1999.  The Coda Mirror.
Ms., Universite Paris 7 and Universite de Nice.
(www6.50megs.com/phono/#Disj)