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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 December 2008
The paper discusses the problem of merger. Examples are taken from the development of the Scandinavian languages, especially the retention or disappearance of tones. The author argues that merger is not necessarily followed by a structural change to compensate for the loss of information, even if the merger is on a large scale. If there is a causal connection, the author prefers to see it the other way round; the merger may take place when other means of discrimination already exist.