Phonology: Basic concepts
Raung-fu [email protected]
Phonology and phonetics:
[ian] Hakka
/ian / [ien] Mandarin ( [a][e]/[i]___[n] )
[en] Southern Min ( [i] / ___ en )
Phonemes:
A phoneme is a minimal sound unit which is distinctive.
--- traditional view
Distinctive:
Minimal pair:
English:
pat
bat
bet
So [p] and [b] are phonemes, and [] and [], too.
In the following language, there are [p]、 [ph]、 [b]、 [t]、 [th]、 [d]. Which of them are phonemes? why?
a. pult wind b. spon grassc. tonk horse d. sputy ideae. sbon eagle f. phult riverg. spuky stone h. donk water
Observe the following data, and decide whether [s]and [] are phonemic? Why?
a. sulit genius b. kiun bookc. pevork worm d. sotenk to eat
e. nianrit walk f. sarume prettyg. liemit board h. kosuviz eyesi. tiorn rainbow j. kuserurin rain
Not all sounds or segments are phonemic:
Observe the distribution of Mandarin /k,kh,h/ and /t, th, /:
a. kei give b. kai revise c. kuo pastd. kou dog e. khai sigh f. khou
mouthg. khou wide h. hai sea i. hei
blackj. hu tiger K. hou back l. tin
tightm. thi light n. in new o. thie cut p. ie thanks
Are /k,kh,h/ and /t,th,/in complementary distribution? If yes, point out the minimal pairs. If not, identify their distribution.
Complementary distribution:
• t• th i u
e o
a
k, kh, h
kei ‘to give’
kai ‘to correct’
kou ‘dog’
ku ‘old’
Two segments in complementary distribution are called allophones with one phoneme.
Observe the /u/ and /o/ in Bunun. Are/u/ and /o/ in complementary distribution?
If not, point out the mimimal pairs. If yes, find out their distribution:
a. iko back b. mua cotton c. takui melon d. tuik squaril
e. baino beans f. autuk rabbitg. babo hog h. ubo hair
Observe the // and /s/ in Japanese. Are
// and /s/ in complementary distribution? If not, point out the mimimal pairs. If yes, find out their distribution: 。
a. higaI east b. uI house c. sake wine d. imasu do e. sensei sir f. ita underg. izu map h. sora skyi. san three
free variants
Examine the following data, and find out the sounds in free variation:
a. vuri winter b. tohesu olive
c. vorul desk d. hiri eagle
e. wuri winter f. yamuro micag. tohesi olive h. worul deski. lamore lamp
Distinctive features:
1. What are distinctive features?
2. Why should we need distinctive features?
b p ph f
[labial] + + + +
[continuent] - - - +
[aspirated] - - + - [voiced] + - - -
X
L SL
[asp] [voiced] [labial] [coronal] [dorsal]
[+ant [- ant] [hi] [lw]
[bk]
Natural class:
Segments sharing the feature are called “natural class.” They are predicted to behave the same phonologically.
Mokileses: Examine the distribution of [i,i] and [u,u], where [i] =voicless vowel 。 Are they phonemic?.
• [pisan] (leave )
• [dupukda] (buy )• [puko]
(bookbag)• [kisa] (two)• [supwo] (wood)• [kamwkiti] (move)
• [uduk] (musles)• [kaskas] (go)• [poki] (beat)• [pil] (water)• [apid] (support)• [lujuk] (deal)
Sindhi: Observe the distribution of [p], [ph], and [b] in the following language 。 Are they phonemic? How to account for the distribution?
• [pnu] (noodle)• [vdu] (chance)• [eki] (doubt)• [gdo] (dull)• [dru] (door)• [phnu] (snake)
• [tru] (buttom)• [khto] (sour)• [bdu] (run)• [bnu] (wood)• [btu] (safe)• [ddu] (judge)
Italian: Examine the distribution of [n] and [].Are they phonemic? How can this distribution be accounted for?
• [tinta] (dye)• [tnda] (tent)• [dansa] (dance)• [nero] (black)• [dnte] (people)• [sapone] (soap)
• [tigo] (I dye)• [tgo] (I keep)• [fugo] (mushroom)• [byaka] (white)• [ake] (also)• [fago] (mud)
Spanish : Examine the distribution of [d] and []. Are they phonemic? How can this distribution be accounted for?
• [drama] (drama)• [dolor] (pain)• [dime] (tell me)• [kaa] (each)• [lao] (side)• [oio] (hatred)
• [komia] (food)• [anda] (dozen)• [sueldo]
(compensation)• [durar] (to last)• [toldo] (curtain)• [falda] (skirt)
Russian : Examine the distribution of [a] and [].Are they phonemic? How can this distribution be accounted for?
• [atm] (atom)• [dva] (two)• [dar] (gift)• [mas] (decoration)• [mt] (mint)
• [p] (he fell)• [d] (he gave)• [p:] (stick)• [ukr] (she stole)• [br] (he took)
Burmese : Examine the distribution of [m] and [m] . Are they phonemic? How can this distribution be accounted for?
• [mi] (fire)• [mwey] (bear)• [myi] (river)• [myawn] (ditch)• [myin] (see)• [ne] (little)• [nyi] (dirty)• [hmyaw] (many)• [hney] (slow)
• [hnwey] (dozen)• [hnya] (cut)• [he] (bird)• [nwa] (cow)• [a] (dance)• [hmi] (learn)• [hmwey] (fragant)• hnyey] (nod)• [hin] (curry)
Korean : Examine the distribution of [s] and [s] . Are they phonemic? How can this distribution be accounted for?
• [si] (poetry)• [misin] (superstition)• [sinmun] (newspaper)• [thaksasikye] (table)• [silsu] (mistake)• [osip] (fifty)• [casin] (self)• [pasik] (way)
• [kansik] (dissert)• [kasi] (snack)• [sal] (flesh)• [casal] (suicide)• [kasu] (singer)• [sanmun] (prose)• [miso] (smile)• [susek] (search)• [tapsa] (explore)
Same : Examine the distribution of [ty] and [ky] ([y]=palatalized). Are they phonemic? How can this distribution be accounted for?
• [pa:tytyi] (smithy)• [la:kykyu] (meadow)• [pa:tni] (tooth)• [kihlyi:ht]
(engagement)• [liehmu] (mild)• [pa:kykyi] (smithy)
• miha:] (a lot)• [fana:s] (boat)• [vahnemaht] (parents)• [tsabma] (whips)• [la:itas] (unhappy)• [la:tytyu] (meadow)• [pa:ni] (tooth)