phonotactic constraints

Phonotactic constraints are the rules that determine which sound combinations are possible or typical in a language. They specify how sounds can be arranged within words, such as which consonants can appear together or where certain sounds can occur (beginning, middle, or end). These rules help ensure words are pronounceable and follow the natural patterns of a language. For example, in English, "str" is a common consonant cluster at the start of words like "street," but "tsp" is not. These constraints vary across languages and shape the sound structure of words.