Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure Ch 16: Using the symbol {#}

Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure

Ch 16: Using the symbol {#}

1. Discussion

• “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea, but where do we run into problems?

1. Discussion

• “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea, but where do we run into problems?– Well, just about everywhere

• Does prefix у- have one meaning?• Does the infinitive morpheme have one shape?• Does the Dsg morpheme have either?

2. Definitions

• Contrastive distribution:

2. Definitions

• Contrastive distribution:– When two items appear in the same

environment, and can thus contrast• Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат

• Complementary distribution:

2. Definitions

• Contrastive distribution:– When two items appear in the same

environment, and can thus contrast• Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат

• Complementary distribution:– When two items never appear in the same

environment and cannot contrast• Eg. English aspirated and unaspirated stops, or

Russian [c] vs. []

2. Definitions, cont’d.

• Free variation:

2. Definitions, cont’d.

• Free variation:– When two items can appear in the same

environment, but don’t seem to contrast anyhow

• Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. –ею/-ою

• Neutralization:

2. Definitions, cont’d.

• Free variation:– When two items can appear in the same

environment, but don’t seem to contrast anyhow

• Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. –ею/-ою

• Neutralization:– When only one of a set of options can appear

in a given environment (eg. only voiceless obstruents appear word-finally)

3. Morpheme boundaries

• What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker?

3. Morpheme boundaries

• What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker?

• phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending

• How can we tell?

3. Morpheme boundaries

• What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker?

• phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending• How can we tell?

– Phrase & word boundaries cause final devoicing

– Preposition/prefix boundary shows t, p, b not softening before ъV

– Suffix/ending shows /o/,/a/ > []

4. Vowel-zero

• What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation and what’s with {l}?

4. Vowel-zero

• What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation and what’s with {l}?– If you have two consecutive syllables with {#}

as the vowel, the one to the left becomes a vowel, and the one to the right drops

– The vowel is basic o, unless it is surrounded by soft consonants or /š/, /ž/, /c/, in which case it is basic e

– {l} “likes” to be soft

6. Inventory of non-root morphemes thus far…

• So what are they?

6. Inventory of non-root morphemes thus far…

{,ot} 3sg non-past

{,} (as in голубь {o} Nsgneut; prep; linking vowel

{e} Lsg

{a} Nsgfem; Gsgmascneut; Asgmascanim; NAplneut

{#} Nsgmascfem; Gpl; masc past

{s#} preposition/ prefix

{i} Npl, DGLsgfem

{,i} verbal suffix {#k} diminutive {,#n} adj-forming suffix

{raz#} prefix ({roz#})

{ij}/{oj} Nsgmasc adj

{t#} infinitive {v#} preposition/ prefix

{,#c} suffix

7. What’s the point?

• Is there any advantage to having a vowel-zero alternation?

7. What’s the point?

• Is there any advantage to having a vowel-zero alternation?– It can serve as a redundant index of part of a

paradigm (similar to stress)

8. Can you write this in Russian?

• {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx}

8. Can you write this in Russian?

• {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx}

• «Не швы во вшах, а вши во швах»

9. Give the morphophonemic transcriptions

вошь шов дно

дон лён льна

бездонный

9. Give the morphophonemic transcriptions

вошь {v#š|#} шов {š#v|#} дно {d#n|o}

дон {d#n|#} лён {ļ#n|#} льна {ļ#n|a}

бездонный {bez#|d#n|,#n|ij}