On contrasts in the Persian vowel system∗

In this paper I address the controversy over the active feature of the Persian vowel system. I evaluate the evidence presented in the literature in this regard and show that it is inconclusive. I show that a phonological process of the language, vowel harmony, plays a decisive role, arguing for a feature-based analysis of the system. I further show that this feature is not height since it cannot account for the categorization of the vowels suggested by harmony. I suggest an analysis of the system based on tense/lax distinction, by which both harmony and categorization of the vowels are accounted for