Distinctive vs. redundant features

LING 451/551 Spring 2011 Prof. Hargus A possible matrix for /t/

[-syllabic] [+consonantal] [-] [-] [-delayed release] Do we really [+coronal] need all these [+anterior] features??? [-labial] [-dorsal] [-voiced] [-constricted glottis] [-spread glottis]

How many features?

• For y number of contrasts, the minimum number of features needed is n: 2n  y – For two contrasting sounds (y = 2): • 2n  2, n = 1 – For three contrasts (y = 3): • 2n  3, n = 2 – For four contrasts (y = 4): • 2n  4, n = 2 • Distinctive feature – feature which characterizes a phonemic contrast • Must first know (or deduce) inventory of contrastive segments Witsuwit’en stop phonation contrasts

• t th t’ c ch c’ kw kwh kw’ q qh q’ • A distinctive feature matrix for Witsuwit’en phonation contrasts

C Ch C’

[spread glottis] - + -

[constricted glottis] - - + Two four- inventories

• Navajo i e o ɑ • Yokuts i u o ɑ Some vowel features in Hayes

• [+front]: [i y e] etc. • [+back]: [ɯ u o ɑ] etc. • [+high]: [i y u ɯ] etc. • [+low]: [æ ɑ ɒ] etc. • [+round]: [y u o] etc.

Distinctive features for Yokuts

i u [+high] o ɑ [+low]

[+front] [+back] [+round]

Minimum number for 4 is 2 – (y = 4, 2n  4, n = 2) Yokuts vowel inventory Distinctive features: [round]

- +

[high] + i u

- ɑ o Yokuts distinctive feature matrix

i u ɑ o

[high] + + - -

[round] - + - + Inadequate alternative Yokuts distinctive feature matrix i u ɑ o

[high] + + - -

[back] - + + + Yokuts redundant vowel features

• Redundant feature – non-distinctive (does not distinguish phonemes) – predictable from distinctive features • One way to predict [low] V [-high]  [+low] [-round]

otherwise, V  [-low] • Redundant [back], [front] V [+high]  [-back] [-round] [+front]

otherwise, V  [+back, -front] • Do [high], [round] correctly predict natural classes of vowels in Yokuts?

Navajo vowels

• Minimum number features for 4-vowel inventory is 2 i [+high] e o ɑ [+round]

[+low]

[+front] [+back] Navajo distinctive features

• Multiple possible solutions • Combinations of 5 features taken 3 at a time: Some distinguish all vowels, some do not: 1. [high, low, back] 2. [high, low, front] 3. [high, low, round] 4. *[high, back, front] 5. [high, back, round] 6. [high, front, round] 7. *[low, back, front] 8. *[low, back, round] 9. *[low, front, round] 10.*[back, front, round] 1. [high], [low], [back]

i e ɑ o [high] + - - -

[low] - - + -

[back] - - + +

Redundant [round]: V [-low]  [+round]; otherwise, [-round] [+back] Redundant [front]: V [-back]  [+front]; otherwise [-front] 2. [high], [low], [front]

i e ɑ o [high] + - - -

[low] - - + -

[front] + + - -

Redundant [round], [back] 3. [high], [round], [low]

i e ɑ o [high] + - - -

[round] - - - +

[low] - - + -

Redundant [back], [front]

4. *[high], [back], [front]

i e ɑ o [high] + - - -

[back] - - + +

[front] - - - -

/ɑ/, /o/ not distinct 5. [high], [back], [round]

i e ɑ o [high] + - - -

[round] - - - +

[back] - - + +

Redundant [low], [front] 6. [high, round, front]

i e ɑ o

[high] + - - -

[round] - - - +

[front] + + - -

Redundant [low], [back] 7. *[low, back, front]

i e ɑ o

[low] - - + -

[back] - - + +

[front] + + - -

/i/, /e/ not distinct *8. [round], [low], [back]

i e ɑ o [round] - - - +

[low] - - + -

[back] - - + +

/i/, /e/ not distinct *9. [round], [low], [front]

i e ɑ o [round] - - - +

[low] - - + -

[front] + + - -

/i/, /e/ not distinct *10. [round], [back], [front]

i e ɑ o [round] - - - +

[back] - - + +

[front] + + - -

/i/, /e/ not distinct Summary

• Distinctive features – minimum number < # contrasts – exact number < phonetic nature of contrasts • Redundant features – predictable from distinctive feature(s) • Are features always enlightening? – read Hayes 4.9