Die graphotaktische Funktion des Dehnungs-h im Deutschen

This study proposes a novel theoretical interpretation of the so-called Dehnungs- in Ger-man orthography. In contrast to the traditional view that the grapheme merely marks vowel length, the analysis suggests that serves a structural purpose: it signals the non-syllabic realization of the following sonorant. This function accounts for the restriction that only one sonorant may follow and explains why sequences such as are inadmissible within monomorphemic words. The study argues that functions as a grapho-tactic boundary, blocking morphological extensions and preventing homonym formation be-tween monosyllabic and morphologically complex bisyllabic forms. Only when and the sonorant belong to different morphemes is a sequence like permissible. Thus, the study reveals a previously overlooked function of , aligning graphematic, phonologi-cal, and morphological constraints within a unified structural framework.