Do the major tendencies of phonological systems of languages depend on constraints of production and perception ? This problem has been studied in the framework of "substance oriented" linguistics, which was introduced simultaneously by Lindblom and Stevens in 1972. Various universal tendencies of phonological systems that might be explained by the characteristics of the sound structures and could be looked upon from an ontogenetical perspective, will be presented and discussed here. The characteristics and the predictability of vocalic and syllabic systems seem to be eminently suited for the study of this question on the basis of research carried out at the ICP.