Phonology Flashcards
What is phonology?
Subdiscipline of linguistics that is concerned with the patterning of speech sounds
(Partial) Prosodic Hierarchy
Words - Syllables - Segments - Features
Contrastive Distribution
Allophones of separate phonemes - Occur in SAME phonetic environment
Contrastive Segments
Segments that can used to signal a change in meaning
Phonemes
Stored mental representations of contrastive segments
Minimal Pair Test
If a new word is created by swapping one segment for another = contrastive distribution
Near-Minimal Pairs
Have more differences between the words than minimal pairs
Phonemic Inventory
Collection of contrastive segments in a language
Phonetic Inventory
Collection of segments that are actually produced when speaking
Articulatory Processes
Produce variation between what is stored in our heads and what we actually say
Assimilation
When two segments are adjacent to each other, one causes the other to change
Progressive Assimilation
A sounds influences the following sound
Regressive Assimilation
A sounds influences the preceding sound
Voicing Assimilation
The voiced or voiceless property of one segment is imposed on another
Voicing
Articulatory Process
A voiceless segments becomes voiced
Devoicing
A voiced segment becomes voiceless
Place Assimilation
The place of articulation of one segment is imposed on another
Flapping
Both voicing and manner assimilation
Manner Assimilation
A stop (non-continuant) becomes a liquid (continuant)
Dissimilation
When segments are similar, one may change to become more distinct
Deletion
Removes a segment
Metathesis
Reorders segments
Vowel Reduction
Vowels in unstressed positions reduce to a central position in the mouth
[ə]
Epenthesis
Inserts a segment
A voiceless stop is often inserted between a nasal and a voiceless consonant
Phonetic Transcription
Records what was actually produced
[ ]
Phonological Transcription
Records which segments are stored for a given word in the grammar
/ /
Natural Class
Grouping of phonemes
Allophones
Segments as they are produced in speech
Phonetic Environment
The trigger for a rule
Complementary Distribution
Allophones of one phoneme - NEVER occur in the same environment
Phonetically Similar
Share certain properties, but one difference has been introduced by a triggering environment
Syllable
Syllable Structure
Composed of a sonorous segment, and non-syllabic segments at its edges
What’s in a syllable?
4 Answers
- O = Onset (consonant)
- R = Rhyme
- N = Nucleus (vowel)
- Co = Coda (consonant)
Universal Contraints
Obeyed by every language
Language-Specific Constraints
Specific to a given language
Steps to Syllabification
- Nucleus Formation
- Maximize Onset
- Coda Formation
Phonotactics
Set of constraints that governs permissible sequences of segments in a given language
Onset Constraints
Part of a language’s phonotactic constraints as they govern permissible sequences of consonants in onsets
Accidental Gaps
Sequences that are possible in a language but does not occur
Systematic Gap
Combinations that are not possible and violate the language’s phonotactic constraint
Violable Constraints
No adjustments needed on onsets that is clearly not English
Phonological Rule
A - B / X_Y
A = Target Phoneme
B = Output Allophone (Conditioned)
X_Y = Trigger
Features
Basic building blocks of human speech sounds
[± consonantal]
[± cons]
[+ consonantal] = obstruents / nasals / liquids
[- consonantal] = glides / vowels
[± sonorant]
[± son]
[+ sonorant] = vowels / glides / liquids / nasals
[- sonorant] = obstruents
[± syllabic]
[± syll]
[+ syllabic] = vowels / syllabic liquids and nasals
[- syllabic] = obstruents / non-syllabic liquids and nasals / glides
*[-cons][-son]
[+ cons]
[- son]
[- syll]
Obstruent
[+ cons]
[- syll]
Consonant
[+ cons]
[- son]
[+ syll]
Sonorant
[- cons]
[+ son]
[+ syll]
Vowel
[- cons]
[+ son]
[- syll]
Glide
[± continuant]
[± cont]
[+ continuant] = vowels / glides / fricatives / liquids
[- continuant] = stops / affricates / nasals
[± delayed release]
[± DR]
[+ delayed response] = affricates
[- delayed response] = everything else
[± nasal]
[± nas]
[+ nasal] = nasals
[- nasal] = oral sounds
[± lateral]
[± lat]
[+ lateral] = l sounds
[- lateral] = everything else
[± voice]
[± voi] [± vce]
[+ voice] = voiced segments
[- voice] = voiceless segments
[± spread glottis]
[± SG]
[+ spread glottis] = aspirated consonants
[- spread glottis] = unaspirated consonants
[± constricted glottis]
[± CG]
[+ constricted glottis] = glottal stop
[- constricted glottis] = everything else
[LABIAL]
[LAB]
Bilabials / Labiodentals
Major place feature
[± round]
[± rnd]
[+ round] = rounded vowels
[- round] = [ p b f v m]
(minor place feature)
[CORONAL]
[COR]
Sounds articulated using the tongue tip or tongue
[± anterior]
[± ant]
[+ anterior] = interdental / alveolars
[- anterior] = alveopalatals
[± strident]
[± strid]
[+ strident] = sibilants / [ s z ʃ ʒ tʃ dʒ]
[- strident] = [ɵ ð]
[DORSAL]
[DOR]
Sounds articulated using the tongue body or dorsum
[± high]
[± hi]
[+ high] = velars / palatals/ high vowels
[- high] = everything else (mid / low vowels)
[± low]
[±l o]
[+ low] = low vowels
[- low] = mid / high vowels
[+ hi]
[- lo]
High vowels
[- hi]
[- lo]
Mid vowel
[- hi]
[+ lo]
Low vowel
[± back]
[± bk] [± bck]
[+ back] = central / back vowels
[- back] = front vowels
[± tense]
[± tns]
[+ tense] = tense vowels
[- tense] = lax vowels
[± reduced]
[± red]
[+ reduced] = [ə]
[- reduced] = all other vowels
