Features: the atoms of segment structure Each feature encodes one of the aspects of speech production Linguistics 288b The specification of features is either positive or negative; specification is therefore binary/bivalent. Phonology 3 Features are conventionally arranged in a column called a feature matrix.
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Features Why do we need features?
[p] natural classes: an economical way of +consonantal characterizing segments (e.g. /s z S Z tS dZ/ = -syllabic [+sibilant]; /p t k b d g f v s z T D S Z tS dZ h // = -sonorant obstruents ([-sonorant, +consonantal]) -voice +labial better understanding of allophonic variation (e.g. -round assimilation - e.g. liquid devoicing /pr/ → [pr8] -continuant -nasal -lateral
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Allophonic variation Liquid devoicing
Allophonic variation is not simply the substitution /p r/ →[pr8] of one allophone for another, but an +consonantal +consonantal -syllabic -syllabic ø environmentally conditioned change of a feature -sonorant +sonorant -voice +voice or features +labial +coronal /pr/ [p ] ‘pray’ [p ], ‘prime’ [p ] -continuant +continuant → r8 r8ej r8ajm -nasal -nasal -lateral -lateral etc. etc.
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1 Natural classes Natural classes
Reason: simplicity in scientific modeling Examples of natural classes in English: (Occam’s razor). / s z S Z tS dZ/ = [+sibilant] /p t k b d g f v s z T D s z S Z tS dZ h // = [-sonorant, A set of segments is said to constitute a natural +consonantal] (obstruents) class if fewer features are needed to specify the /l/ = [+lateral] set as a whole then to specify any one member of the set.
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Natural classes Natural classes
Note: in informal identification of natural classes, It is a fundamental precept of phonological theory you may use conventional phonetic categories that phonological processes apply to natural instead of features. For example, [-sonorant, classes and not just any assemblage of sounds. +voice, -continuant] = the class of voiced obstruent stops.
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A standard five-vowel system Characterizing natural classes (Language X) The precise characterization of a natural class in a i e a o u given language depends on what other sounds there are in the language. Back - - + + + High + - - - +
Low - - + - - Naturalness is relativized to the expression of contrast in the language/dialect. Round - - - + +
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2 Strategies for determining Natural classes natural classes Consider the set of vowels {i, e}. Step 1: identify which features the set {i, e} has in Is this a natural class in Language X? common.
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Natural class Natural class
Step 2: list the features. Step 3: check that no other sounds share exactly these specifications.
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Natural class Natural class
Step 4: confirmation: the set {i, e} constitutes a Step 5: check for redundancies. natural class!
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3 An example of an unnatural English consonants class p t k Consider the following consonant inventory b d g (English): m n N NB: the feature chart for English consonants is f s h given on p. 81 of the textbook. T S v D z Z tS dZ l a natural class? r j w Linguistics 288b 19 Linguistics 288b 20
Natural class Natural class
Suppose, for the purpose of this demonstration, Step 1: identify which features the set {v, D, Z} has that there is a phonological process that requires in common (this information is in the feature chart us to identify /v D Z / as a class, to the exclusion for English consonants, p. 81). of /z/. ⇒ Does the set {v, D, Z} constitute a natural class?
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Features Natural class
v D Z Step 2: list the features. Consonantal Sonorant Syllabic Nasal Continuant Lateral Anterior Voice Alveolar Linguistics 288b 23 Linguistics 288b 24
4 Natural class Natural class
Step 3: Check that no other sounds share exactly Reason: because /v D Z/ cannot be defined using a these specifications. single set of feature specification, without also including the unwanted sound /z/. The search stops here! Note: if /z/ was not one of the consonants of this language, the group /v D Z/ would constitute a natural class.
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Natural class Features
How would you define the set if it included /z/? v D z Z {v D z Z} (i.e. the set of voiced fricatives) Consonantal Step 1: identify which features the set has in Sonorant common. Syllabic Nasal Continuant Lateral Velar Voice Anterior Linguistics 288b 27 Linguistics 288b 28
Natural class Natural class
Step 2: list the features. Step 3: check that no other sounds share exactly these specifications. Ok: no other sounds.. Step 4: Confirmation - the set {v D z Z} constitutes a natural class.
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5 Natural class Natural class
Step 5: Check for redundancies. (b) How do you get rid of the unwanted segments?
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Natural class Natural class
(c) How do you get rid of the unwanted segments? We conclude that the most parsimonious definition for the set {v D z Z} is:
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Natural class Natural class
Note: if you look carefully, you will notice some the feature [lateral]: redundancies in the original table in Step 1:
⇒ this feature is restricted to exclusive sets of sounds and therefore are irrelevant to the definition of the set {v D z Z}.
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6 Natural class Quick homework
if we had included [+consonantal] in the feature set Determine whether each of the sets below for voiced fricatives, we would need to include more features to get rid of unwanted segments. constitutes a natural class in English. If yes, give Why? the relevant (i.e. not redundant) features that Because [+consonantal] includes too many define the set. segments! Also, [+consonantal] is redundant: every [+voice, - a. {tS dZ} sonorant] (which eliminates most of the unwanted segments) is [+consonantal]. b. {p b m} c. {i Q ´}
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