Phonology 1Phonology- the study of the cognitive organization of soundWhat sounds are used in various languages to distinguish different words?Which sequences of sounds are allowed, and which are not allowed?What changes do sounds undergo in various environments?How are sounds organized into larger constituents? (syllables, words and phrases)Contrastive vs. non contrastive soundsIn language a- there is a huge difference in phonology, or the organization of the sound, not necessarily the sounds themselves. Cognitively, by speakers of this language they are thought to be two different sounds completely because they change the meaning of the wordsContrastive – t and d occur in the same position in the word and are used to signal meaning contrastsT and d are separate phonemes – phoneme is a mental sound that the speaker is aware of used to signal word meaningOccurrence is not predictableIn language b- the t and the d never occur in exactly the same position. Oral aveolar stop- t, if it is between two vowels it is a d, we can make that predictionNon contrastive- t and d do not occur in the same position of the word and are not used to signal meaning contrastT and d are allophones (two different pronounciations) of the same phoneme (one phoneme- mental sound); they don’t occur in the same positionOccurrence is predictablePhonemes and allophonesPhoneme- the basic underlying form of a segment in a speakers mental dictionary. Used to signal meaning contrastsAllophone- a contextually determined variant pronunciation of a phoneme. The actual surface realization of a phonemeContrastive distributionContrastive distribution- two segments in contrastive distribution in a particular language if there exists a minimal pair involving those segments in that languageMinimal pair- two forms with distinct meanings that different by only one segment found in the same position in each oneComplementary distributioncomplementary distribution- two segments are in complementary distribution in a particular language if they appear in opposite (non overlapping) environmentscomplementary – where there is a yes, there is a no for the other soundnon complementary- not a clear pattern, overlapPhonology 2Phonemes- the abstract representations of sounds as stored in the mental dictionaryAllophones- the actual surface pronunciations of soundsLexicon- a speaker’s mental dictionaryEach word has a lexical entry which is stored in the brain. The lexical entry contains only unpredictable aspects of sound and meaning associated with a wordPhonological rulesRelate the underlying forms of words to their surface forms. They change the pronunciation of certain sounds in specified environmentsAspiration rule – voiceless stops become aspirated at the beginning of a wordX (underlying form) (becomes) Y (change) / (in) Z (environment of change)The phoneme x becomes y in the environment of zNasalization ruleVowels nasal /_nasal(vowels become nasal before a nasal sound)use natural classes and phonetic features whenever possible, rather than just listing specific sounds in rules.LINGUIS 101 1st Edition Lecture 9 Phonology 1 Phonology- the study of the cognitive organization of sound - What sounds are used in various languages to distinguish different words?- Which sequences of sounds are allowed, and which are not allowed?- What changes do sounds undergo in various environments?- How are sounds organized into larger constituents? (syllables, wordsand phrases) Contrastive vs. non contrastive sounds These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- In language a- there is a huge difference in phonology, or the organization of the sound, not necessarily the sounds themselves. Cognitively, by speakers of this language they are thought to be twodifferent sounds completely because they change the meaning of the wordso Contrastive – t and d occur in the same position in the word and are used to signal meaning contrasts o T and d are separate phonemes – phoneme is a mental sound that the speaker is aware of used to signal word meaning o Occurrence is not predictable - In language b- the t and the d never occur in exactly the same position. Oral aveolar stop- t, if it is between two vowels it is a d, wecan make that prediction o Non contrastive- t and d do not occur in the same position of the word and are not used to signal meaning contrasto T and d are allophones (two different pronounciations) of the same phoneme (one phoneme- mental sound); they don’t occur in the same position o Occurrence is predictable Phonemes and allophones - Phoneme- the basic underlying form of a segment in a speakers mental dictionary. Used to signal meaning contrasts - Allophone- a contextually determined variant pronunciation of a phoneme. The actual surface realization of a phoneme Contrastive distribution - Contrastive distribution- two segments in contrastive distribution in a particular language if there exists a minimal pair involving those segments in that language - Minimal pair- two forms with distinct meanings that different by onlyone segment found in the same position in each one Complementary distribution - complementary distribution- two segments are in complementary distribution in a particular language if they appear in opposite (non overlapping) environmentso complementary – where there is a yes, there is a no for the other sound o non complementary- not a clear pattern, overlap Phonology 2 - Phonemes- the abstract representations of sounds as stored in the mental dictionary - Allophones- the actual surface pronunciations of sounds - Lexicon- a speaker’s mental dictionary o Each word has a lexical entry which is stored in the brain. The lexical entry contains only unpredictable aspects of sound andmeaning associated with a word Phonological rules Relate the underlying forms of words to their surface forms. They change the pronunciation of certain sounds in specified environments- Aspiration rule – voiceless stops become aspirated at the beginning of a word o X (underlying form) (becomes) Y (change) / (in) Z (environment of change) o The phoneme x becomes y in the environment of z- Nasalization rule Vowels nasal /_nasal(vowels become nasal before a nasal sound)- use natural classes and phonetic features whenever possible, rather than just listing
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