Abstract: This chapter illustrates the relationship among synchronic universals, paths of change, and mechanisms of change with respect to the phonological changes that create the structural tendency known as Structure Preservation in Lexical Phonology. Topics discussed include substantive and formal universals, structure preservation, three unidirectional paths of change in phonology, sound change, and categorization of phonetic variants.

Keywords: synchronic universals, paths of change, phonology, sound change, substantive universals, formal universals, phonetic variants,