Phonology Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to phonology, focusing on the study of speech sounds, their structures, and rules of pronunciation.

Phonology

The study of the structure and systematic patterns of speech sounds.

What is the distinctive feature classification system also known as?

The Sound Pattern of English (SPE) system.

Who developed the Sound Pattern of English (SPE)?

Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle.

Epenthesis

Insertion of a sound in a word, often used to emphasize an ending sound. It can become a problem in language acquisition or speech disorders when it affects intelligibility or deviates significantly from target phonology.

Acoustic Stability

Sounds remain stable even with minor shifts in tongue position, such as in labials and coronals.

Phonological Rules

Conditions for pronunciation of phonemes in morphological applications.

Universal Features

Sound features available to all languages, but not necessarily used by all languages.

Syllable

A phonological structural unit whose properties vary across languages, including onset, nucleus, and coda.

Syllable Onset

The beginning of the syllable, usually a consonant.

Syllable Nucleus

The part of the syllable that carries the most stress, usually a vowel.

Syllable Coda

The final part of a CVC syllable.

Syllable Foot

The external organization of syllables that determines stress.

What is the other system of sound classification besides SPE?

Phonetic Classes, which classifies based on voice, place, and manner of articulation.

Affricate

A consonant that begins as a stop and releases as a fricative.

Voiced

Describes sounds that involve vibration of the vocal cords.

Nasal

A sound produced with the velum lowered, allowing air to pass through the nasal cavity.

Strident (sound)

A sound produced with high-intensity friction, typically louder and harsher than non-strident sounds (e.g., s, f, \text{ʃ}, \text{tʃ}).

Plosive (sound)

A consonant sound produced by completely obstructing the airflow in the vocal tract and then releasing it suddenly (e.g., p, t, k, b, d, g).

How are vowels classified in the Phonological System?

By features such as Tense, Lax, and Reduced.

What are the two perspectives for viewing a language's sound system?

1. Physiological (structural & physiologic principles of sound production & combinations). 2. Linguistic (rules for producing, combining, and using sounds within a language).