Phonetics/Phonology

Question 1

Syllables must (at minimum) contain…

Answer 1

a vowel

Question 2

Syllable structure

Answer 2

Onset (C), Nucleus (V), Coda (C)

Question 3

Syllabic consonants

Answer 3

consonants that form the nucleus of a syllable on their own ([m], [n], etc.)

Question 4

Phonotactics

Answer 4

restrictions in the mental grammar on what sounds can appear in what positions and what syllable structures are possible

Question 5

Some English phonotactics

Answer 5

Syllable nuclei can be vowels or syllabic consonants, syllabic consonants can only be nasals or approximants, onsets can have more than three consonants, lax vowels can only appear in closed syllables, etc.

Question 6

Natural classes

Answer 6

If there are 2 consonants in the onset, and the consonant closest to the nucleus is [p], [t], or [k], the other consonant must be [s]

Question 7

Sonority hierarchy

Answer 7

ranking of phonetic segments in terms of their sonority; most sonorous (vowels) to least (stops)

Question 8

Sonority sequencing principle

Answer 8

Every syllable exhibits exactly one sonority peak (contained in the nucleus); syllable margins exhibit a sonority hierarchy which rises towards the nucleus

Question 9

Critical Period hypothesis

Answer 9

Native-like proficiency in a language can generally only be achieve before a certain age (typically from birth until puberty)