Phonology Handout 1

1. Definition of Phonology

• Phonology: Refers to the system of sound or grammar of sound that is internalized and tacitly known by every person for each language they speak.

• Distinction from Phonetics:

  • Phonetics deals with the universal physical parameters of sound articulation, acoustics, and perception.

  • Each language has its own phonology, while phonetics is independent of specific languages.

2. Basic Questions of Phonology

• How does the mind process sound in language?

• How have individual speakers learned a system of sound?

• What is this system of sound like?

  • Inquiry into its design properties.

• How do speakers of the same language align in their understanding of the sound system?

• How can linguists or infants discover the phonological system in use?

3. Language and Phonological Behavior

• Your language influences your habitual phonological behavior.

• Interview instances:

  • Accent when speaking a foreign language.

  • Misperception of distinctions in a foreign language.

• These examples illustrate Benjamin Lee Whorf's broader assertion that language affects habitual behavior and thinking.

4. Characteristics of a Phonological System

• A phonological system consists of:

  • A finite inventory of PHONEMES, which are the distinctive speech sounds in a language.

  • Rules for combining phonemes into syllables and words.

  • Examples:

    • Acceptable words in English: /blɩk/, /zeɪbi/.

    • Unacceptable words: /bnɩk/, /uoaeɪ/.

• Each language possesses its own phonological system, which includes:

  • An inventory of consonants and vowels.

  • Established rules for combining these to produce syllables and words.

5. Finding Phonemic Inventories: Minimal Sets

• Definition of Minimal Set: A set of two or more words differing by ONLY one sound.

• Purpose: Proves distinctiveness by demonstrating that a single sound difference results in two different words.

  • Example:

  • root [ɹut] vs. loot [lut] shows distinctiveness through the contrast of [ɹ] and [l].

• Engagement Exercise:

  • Identify English words starting with /b/, ending with /d/, and with a vowel sound in between, e.g., [b__d] (bead, bid, bade, …).

  • Consider how many distinct vowel sounds are found.

• Spanish Example:

  • Examine words: piso (‘storey, floor’), peso (‘monetary unit’), paso (‘pass’), poso (‘sediment’), puso (‘s/he put (past)’).

• Each proven distinct sound is termed a PHONEME, represented between slashes: /i/, /I/, /eɪ/, etc.

• Task: Complete Problem 1 on Zinca from the Phoneme Problems handout.

6. Finding Phonemic Inventories: Complementary Distribution

• Understanding Sounds:

  • A mental sound corresponds to a physical sound; e.g., /i/ is pronounced as [i], /I/ as [I], /eɪ/ as [eɪ].

• Some phonemes have multiple physical sounds (ALLOPHONES) linked to them depending on their context.

• Complementary Distribution: Refers to allophones that appear in distinct, non-overlapping environments.

  • Example:

  • The phoneme /ph/ is pronounced as [p] after [s] and as [ph] elsewhere: spill [spIl] vs. pill [phIl], lip [lIph], happen [hæphǝn].

• The term elsewhere is essential as it affirms that allophones cannot be shown as distinctive in minimal sets.

• Task: Complete Problem 4 on Scots English from the Phoneme Problems handout.

7. Phonemic Rules

• Definition: A phonemic rule describes the allophones of a phoneme and their distribution.

  • Basic case examples include:

  • /i/ has [i], /I/ has [I], /eɪ/ has [eɪ].

• In cases of complementary distribution, one must indicate the allophones and their respective distributions.

  • Example:

  • The phoneme /ph/ is described as [p] after [s] and [ph] elsewhere.

• “Elsewhere” Allophone: The most general pronunciation, while the other(s) are context-specific.

  • For instance:

  • [p] occurs after [s] and [ph] is present at the beginnings of words or after vowels, etc.

• Importance of Phoneme Naming: The phoneme for the “elsewhere” allophone must be identified as it represents the more general rule.

8. Phonetic vs. Phonemic Writing

• Phonetic Writing: Specifies each sound in its exact phonetic form, shown in square brackets […].

  • Example: spill [spIl] vs. pill [phIl], lip [lIph], happen [hæphǝn].

• Phonemic Writing: Displays each segment in its phonemic form written between slashes /…/.

  • Example: spill /sphIl/ vs. pill /phIl/, lip /lIph/, happen /hæphǝn/.

9. Summary Flow Chart of Phonemic System Deduction

• A linguistic process for analyzing phonetic forms to deduce phonemic systems involves:

  1. Beginning: Identification of Minimal Pairs where two sounds contrast.

  2. Flow Steps:

  • If minimal pairs are absent, check if sounds are in complementary distribution.

  • If yes, conclude they are allophones of the same phoneme; if no, they are allophones of different phonemes.

    • This flowchart helps determine distinctions effectively.

10. Conclusion: Relationship Between Phonology and Phonetics

• Phonology: Represents a mental structure governing sounds.

• Phonetics: Focuses on the physical manifestations of phonological structure.