Transformational Rules & Rule Writing

Question 1

Generative Phonology

Answer 1

Branch of generative grammar (most commonly associated with Chomsky)

Chomsky’s main distinction:
Competence: mental understanding of a language
Performance: output of performance (how we can analyze competence)

Question 2

UR and SR

Answer 2

Underlying (mental/phonemic) representation (UR)
Surface (phonetic) representation (SR)

Actual output is based on a single or series of derivations changing the UR to the SR

Question 3

Generative rule writing

Answer 3

Formalism for explaining derivations from UR => SR
UR –> SR / X _ X
where ‘–>’ means ‘becomes’
and ‘/’ means ‘in the environment of’

Question 4

Other symbols used in rule formulation

Answer 4

# = word boundary
 σ = syllable boundary
\+ = morpheme boundary
Ø = nothing
Used for Epenthesis and deletion
Example rules: 
ø => [A] / [B] _ [C]
[A] => ø / [D] _ [F]

Question 5

Some examples of rules

Answer 5

/t/ -> [d] / vowels _

/f/ -> [ɸ] / _ [m]

/i/ -> [ɨ] / _ [velars]

/lateral/ -> [ɫ] / _ σ

/lateral/ -> [l] / σ _

Question 6

Allophones vs. Allomorphs

Answer 6

Allophones: phonetic realizations of phonemes (individual sounds)

Allomorphs: phonetic realization of morphemes (meaningful units)
Examples of English morphemes:
participle: ‘ing’
plural: ‘s’

Question 7

English plurals

Answer 7

Using the following data, determine the distribution of the three allomorphs of English plurals:

	Oranges 			Ticks

	Slats				Overlaps

	Bushes			Pieces 

	Prizes			Leaves

	Beliefs			Bubbles

	Dogs			Grams

	Peers		         Foes