Chapter 3

Question 1

Phonology

Answer 1

The study of the sound system of a language, how the particular sounds contrast in each language to form an integrated system for encoding information, and how such systems differ from one language to another.

Question 2

Phonotactic constraints

Answer 2

Restriction on possible combinations of sounds, often in particular environments.

Question 3

Phoneme

Answer 3

A class of speech sounds identified by a native speaker as the same sound; a mental entity (or category) related to various allophones by phonological rules. Phonemes are written between slashes, for example, /t/.

Question 4

Noncontrastive

Answer 4

A term used to describe two sounds that are not used to differentiate words in a language.

Question 5

Contrastive

Answer 5

A term used to describe two sounds that can be used to differentiate words in a language.

Question 6

Distribution

Answer 6

The set of phonetic environments in which a sound occurs.

Question 7

Contrastive distribution

Answer 7

The occurrence of sounds in a language such that their use distinguishes between the meaning of the words in which they appear, indicating that those sounds are phonemes of the language in question. ex: allophones of different phonemes.

Question 8

Minimal pair

Answer 8

Two words that differ only by a single sound in the same position and that have different meanings.

Question 9

Alternation

Answer 9

A difference between two or more phonetic forms that one might expect to be related.

Question 10

Complementary distribution

Answer 10

The occurrence of sounds in a language such that they are never found in the same phonetic environment. Ex: allophones of the same phoneme.

Question 11

Free Variation

Answer 11

Two sounds that occur in overlapping environments but cause no distinction in the meaning of their respective words.

Question 12

Overlapping distribution

Answer 12

The occurrence of sounds in the same phonetic environments.

Question 13

Conditioning environment

Answer 13

Neighboring sounds of a given sound that cause it to undergo a change.

Question 14

Obstruent

Answer 14

A natural class of sounds produced with an obstruction of the airflow in the oral cavity while the nasal cavity is closed off. Ex: oral stops, fricatives, and affricates.

Question 15

Sonorant

Answer 15

Sound (usually voiced) produced with a relatively open passage of air flow. Ex: nasals. liquids, glides, and vowels

Question 16

Assimilation

Answer 16

A process by which a sound becomes more like a nearby sound in terms of some feature(s).

Question 17

Dissimilation

Answer 17

Process by which two nearby sounds become less alike with respect to some feature.

Question 18

Palatalization

Answer 18

A process wherein a sound takes on a palatal place of articulation, usually in assimilation to high or mid front vowels like [i] or [e].

Question 19

Insertion

Answer 19

Process by which a segment not present in the phonemic (or underlying) form is added in the phonetic form.

Question 20

Metathesis

Answer 20

Switching of the order of two sounds, each taking the place of the other.

Question 21

Near-minimal pairs

Answer 21

Similar to a minimal pair, but whereas the words in a minimal pair are identical apart from the contrastive sounds, the words in a near-minimal pair are only almost identical, apart from the contrastive sounds.

Question 22

Derivation

Answer 22

A process by which an underlying form is changed as phonological rules act upon it.

Question 23

Environment

Answer 23

The contexts that immediately precede and follow a sound.