charm (n.)

In GOVERNMENT PHONOLOGY, a term adapted from particle physics, and used to refer to a property of the combinatorial possibilities of the primitive elements which form phonological SEGMENTS. Segments may be positively charmed (e.g. VOWELS) or negatively charmed (e.g. PLOSIVES), or they may be neutral (charmless, e.g. LIQUIDS). Charmed segments may govern; charmless segments may be governed. Positively charmed segments may not occur in non-NUCLEAR positions; negatively charmed segments may not occur in nuclear positions.