Phonology More on allophones and phonemes LING 400

Phonology: More on allophones and phonemes LING 400 Winter 2010

Overview Review of phonology n Data sets n Mohawk stops n Russian velar stops n Please turn off your cell phone

Phonemic vs. phonetic representations n Phonetic representation directly observable n contains measurable properties n n Phonemic representation inferred, not observed n abstract, streamlined representation of sound n n Levels related by phonological rules

Inferring the phonemic representation n Minimal pairs/sets Ø sounds in contrast n Complementary distribution Ø sounds not in contrast

Minimalpair n Two words differing in meaning and only one phonetic property n A minimal pair for voicing in English n [|kɹæbi] crabby vs. [|kɹæpi] crappy n therefore, /p b/ in English Phonetic difference between pair not due to context n Minimal pairs contain phonemes n

Near-minimal pairs/sets n Sometimes not many minimal pairs n n [θ], [ð]: [θɑɪ] thigh, [ðɑɪ] thy; ether, either Sometimes minimal pairs lacking n [ʃ], [ʒ] n none word initially word medially: [ə|luʃən] Aleutian, [ɪ|luʒən]~[ə|luʒən] illusion Rule for inferring phonemes from near-minimal pairs n n sounds must be in “same environment” or close to it [phɑɪ], [spɑɪ] not a minimal pair for aspiration in English ([p], [ph] not in same environment)

Complementary distribution of sounds n Predictable aspects of pronunciation can be due to Influence of neighboring sound n Position within word n

Mohawk n Iroquoian family; spoken in Quebec, Ontario, and New York map from www. ssila. org

Mohawk stops Observation: [p t k b d g] are all sounds of Mohawk n Suspicion: there are no minimal or near-minimal pairs for voicing n Question: Is stop voicing phonemic or predictable? n

Mohawk phonetic data of interest: [p t k b d g] [V: ] = long vowel, [C ] = voiceless consonant [oli: deʔ] ‘pigeon’ [ojɑ: gɑlɑ] ‘shirt’ [zɑhset] ‘hide it!’ (sg. ) [ohjotsɑh] ‘chin’ [gɑ: lis] ‘stocking’ [lɑbɑhbet] ‘catfish’ [odɑhsɑ] ‘tail’ [sdu: hɑ] ‘a little bit’ [wisk] ‘five’ [ʤiks] ‘fly’ [degeni] ‘two’ [desdɑʔn] ‘stand up!’ (sg. ) [ɑplɑm] ‘Abram, Abraham’ [de: zekw] ‘pick it up!’ (sg. )

Finding patterns in a mass of data n Often useful to n rearrange the data n [p t k] vs. [b d g] n simplify the data n list immediately preceding, following sound/position n Then look for natural classes of sounds, those sharing some property not shared by other sounds, to right or left n or unique position n

Summarized contexts [p t k] [b d g] ___ C ___ V ___ # Ø[p t k] and [b d g] are in complementary distribution in Mohawk. • Notice: what precedes doesn’t matter

Writing a phonological rule n Which rule? Mohawk has /p t k/ and Voicing rule (stops are voiced before vowels). or? n Mohawk has /b d g/ and Devoicing rule (stops are voiceless word finally or before a consonant). n

Choose Voicing n Voicing simpler than Devoicing Voicing: “. . . before vowels. ” n Devoicing: “. . . word finally or before a consonant. ” n

Final analysis • In Mohawk, Stops are voiced before vowels, and voiceless elsewhere. (sentence formulation of rule) /p t k/ [b d g] / ___ V ( [p t k] / …) (‘arrow’ formulation of rule) … = elsewhere

Natural classes

Summary n Determining phonemes Minimal pairs and near-minimal pairs n Complementary distribution of sounds n n Keys to being able to do so Understanding value of phonetic symbols n Recognizing natural classes n

Question n Turn in a broad phonetic (or phonemic) transcription of your first and last names Transcribe primary stress (if appropriate) n Transcribe [ə] and [ɾ], if either of your names contains these sounds n