Typology Flashcards
What is linguistic typology?
Classification of languages based on shared features
T or F: The world’s languages vary randomly
False
Crucial question of linguistic typology
How do the world’s languages vary?
Sources of phonological typology
Perception (distinctness), production (ease), complexity
Phonological typology
Which sounds/patterns are more common than others
Categorical & statistical statements
Typological generalizations
Absolute universals
Structural patterns that occur in all languages
Implicational universals
The presence of one trait implies the presence of another trait but not vice versa
Marked
A trait that implies the presence of the other (Less basic)
Unmarked
A trait that presence is implied (More basic)
What does the following notation mean?
/k/ >/q/ (k is more common than q)
How many vowels do most languages have (range)
3-9
Front vowels are generally ____
Unrounded
Back vowels are generally ____
Rounded
T or F: Nasal vowels are marked
True
What makes English’s vowel system unusual?
it has 14+ vowels
Perceptual distinctness
Languages favour vowels spread out in the vowel quadrangle
What is the most common fricative phoneme
s
What is the most common type of articulation
Stop
T or F: Most languages have at least one nasal phoneme
true
T or F: Most languages have at least one liquid phoneme
true
T or F: In tone languages contour tones > level tones
false, other way around
T or F: stops> fricatives, affricates
True
T or F: Voiced obstruents > Voiceless obstruents
false, other way around
T or F: /n/, /s/, /l/ > other nasals, fricatives, laterals
true
Functional explanations for typology
Perception & Production
functional and grammar explanations are ___
not mutually exclusive
