Phonology: Sound Patterns
Discreteness:
·
Variation
in speech heard as discrete sounds
|
lay
[le] |
play
[pl8e] |
|
ray
[re] |
pray
[pr8e] |
|
wine
[wayn] |
twine
[tw8ayn] |
|
sew
[so] |
sewn
[so)n] |
|
lap
[lQp] |
lamp
[lQ)mp] |
|
tog
[tag] |
tong
[ta)N] |
|
tar
[tHar] |
star
[star] |
|
pa
[pHa] |
spa
[spa] |
|
car
[kHar] |
scar
[skar] |
· The discrete or distinctive
sounds are called phonemes and we use / / to represent them.
·
The
variations of phonemes are called allophones and we use [] to represent
them.
We
can describe allophonic variation with the use of features (voicing,
place, manner) to make generalizations.
|
|
/r/ |
/w/ |
|
[l¥] [l] |
[r8] [r] |
[w8] [w] |
·
Generalization: Approximants are devoiced when they follow voiceless sounds.
|
/o/ |
/Q/ |
/a/ |
|
[o] [o)] |
[Q] [Q)] |
[a] [a)] |
·
Generalization: vowels are nasalized when they precede nasal sounds.
|
/t/ |
/p/ |
/k/ |
|
[t] [tH] |
[p] [pH] |
[k] [kH] |
·
Generalization: voiceless stops are deaspirated when they follow [s].
How
do we know if two sounds are separate phonemes or are allophones of the same
phoneme?
Minimal Pair Test
· [p] and [t] are separate
phonemes because we can find minimal pairs.
They are able to create a difference in meaning by substituting
one for another.
|
[pIn] |
[tIn] |
|
[rayp] |
[rayt] |
|
[spok] |
[stok] |
·
[p]
and [pH] are not separate phonemes because we cannot find minimal
pairs. They cannot create a meaning difference when one is substituted for
another.
o [pH] occurs at the beginning of
a word
o [p] occurs after [s]
·
What
about [p] and [b]?
·
What
about [Q] and [Q)]?
·
What
about [r] and [l]?
What
about these Hindi words?
[tal]
‘applause’
[thal] ‘plate’
[kaj&] ‘particle’
[khaj&] ‘itch’
Native
language allophones è Second language phonemes
English
[k] and [kh] è Hindi /k/ and /kh/
Spanish
[e] and [E] è English /e/ and /E/
What
causes allophonic variation?
Co-articulation
effects are
a common cause.
·
Assimilation: a sound becomes more similar to a neighboring sound
o Vowel Nasalization
o Approximant Devoicing
o Place Assimilation
I can try [ayk«ntray]
I can go [ayk«Ngo]
I can be [ayk«mbi]
·
Elision: Deletion of a consonant in clusters
o [t] is often deleted when part of a syllable final cluster
aspects [QspEks]
trust me [tr«smi]
we asked him [wiaskIm] or [wiastIm]
Syllable Structure
Syllable
Onset Rime
Nucleus Coda
C V C
Possible English Syllables:
open
V [ay]
CV [re]
CCV [tre]
CCCV [stre]
closed
CVC [TeN]
CVCC [TQNk]
CVCCC [TQNks]
CCCVCCCC [strENkTs]
Compare the possible
Japanese syllables:
V CV CVN
· What do you think happens when English words are borrowed into Japanese?