Universität Tübingen Seminar für Sprachwissenschaft

Phonetics k Phonology Phonology - Distinctive Features - (Hall, Kapitel 4; Ladefoged, Chapter 11; Clark & Yallop, Appendix 2)

Christian Ebert [email protected] 1 Distinctive Features basics

the rules so far allow for correct derivations, but they do not adquately describe the involved process

example: rule for voice assimilation of plosives in Plains Cree

/p t k/ > [b d g] / V __ V „voiceless plosives become voiced between vowels“

but we cannot read off the rule that... ● the involved sounds form a natural class (like „the plosives of the language“) ● it is an assimilation 2 Distinctive Features basics

a natural class is a collection of sounds in a language that can be described by a set of shared phonetic features

/p t k/ are consonantal, voiceless, obstruent (i.e. non-sonorant), etc. and form a natural class in Plains Cree

the assimilation above is about such features: it changes the 'voiceless' into 'voiced' but leaves all other features intact

in generative grammar phonological rules are stated w.r.t. to feature bundles and not to single segments

3 Distinctive Features basics features are noted between brackets

example: to indicate that a sound is voiced, one attribute the feature [+voice] to it

to indicate that a sound is voiceless one would note [-voice]

there are many suggestions for feature systems

we will stick to the features of Chomsky & Halle (1968) „The Sound Pattern of English“ as in their version of Hall, Chapter 4.

in Clark & Yallop, Appendix 2 there are overviews of other feature systems 4 Distinctive Features basics

another important feature next to [±voice] concerns the indication of sonorance by [±sonorant] (or [±son] for short)

a sonorant sound will be marked for [+son], an obstruent for [−son]

hence the natural class of voiceless obstruents can be described by an appropriate combination of features into a feature bundle or feature matrix:

[ -son ] [-son, -voice] or -voice

the features are written either next to or on top of each other

5 Distinctive Features basics

another important feature is [±continuant] ([±cont]), which indicates whether the airflow through the oral cavity is continuous

if the air flows continuously over tongues and lips, the sound carries the [+cont] feature, otherwise it is marked as [−cont]

with these features the following classes can be described

[-son] Non-Sonorants = obstruents = plosives & fricatives e.g. in German [b p d t g k v f S s z C x h ?]

[-son, -cont] non-continuant obstruents = plosives e.g. in German [b p d t g k ?]

[-son, -cont, voiceless non-continuant obstruents = voiceless plosives -voice] e.g. in German [p t k ?] 6 Distinctive Features basics illustrated with a diagram (w.r.t. German sounds):

+son -son

a: j

e y z c O i o

v I @ n d + E m v N b u: w l g

t t ? k n n o o

e C c c

c p S - + i

o t v

- s f x 7 Distinctive Features basics

the features themselves are universal means to describe sounds across languages which class of sound is actually described by a feature bundle depends on the particular language under consideration

for instance, the class [-son,-cont,-voice] (voiceless plosives) in Plains Cree comprises only [p t k] (German, in comparison: [p t k ?] since there is no glottal plosive [?] in Plains Cree) therefore we can change the rule for voice assimilation in Plains Cree from above as follows:

-son [ ] V __ V -cont > [+voice] / -voice 8 Distinctive Features basics

rules with feature matrices are to be read as follows:

on all sounds that carry the specified input features, the output features are transformed as specified, if they occur in the given environment

all features that are not mentioned in the rule are left unchanged

the rule hence describes the desired change: voiceless plosives in Plains Cree are changed into voiced ones between vowels

furthermore it is now clear that the input to the rule is a natural class and not an arbitrary collection of sounds 9 Distinctive Features basics

a feature, that makes the crucial difference between two phonemes of a language is called distinctive (for this language)

stated differently: a feature is distinctive if there are two phonemes that differ only in this feature

for instance, [±voice] is distinctive for German since the two phonemes /p/ and /b/ differ only in voicing

a feature for aspiration [±aspirated] is not distinctive for German: although aspirated plosives as [p] occur they are allophonic (and not distinctive/contrastive) to [p]

but [±aspirated] is distinctive in Hindi, which has the two phonemes /p/ and /p/. 10 Distinctive Features feature systems

a system of features must provide all distinctive features that are necessary to describe the distinctive sounds of the worlds languages

in the following we will focus on the system of Chomsky & Halle (1968) in its variant given by Hall (2000)

as above, most features are binary, i.e. they have either the value + or -

furthermore there are privative features, which are either present or absent; the presence of other features may in turn depend on the the presence of these privative features 11 Distinctive Features feature systems

features can be classified according to four categories:

major class features capture large classes of segments, such as sonorants, etc.

laryngeal features capture aspects pertaining to the glottis/vocal folds

manner of articulation features describe different types of constrictions

place of articulation features describe articulator & tongue position 12 Distinctive Features major class features

[±consonantal] ([±cons])

[+cons] are sounds that are produced with a major constriction in the oral cavity

[+cons]: plosives such as /p b/, fricatives such as /f v/, affricates such as /tþs/, nasals such as /m n/, laterals such as /l/, trills such as /r/, flaps & taps such as /4/, approximants such as /£ ²/

[-cons]: vowels and glides such as /j w/, laryngeal sounds such as /h ?/ (here the constriction is located in the larynx and not the oral cavity) 13 Distinctive Features major class features

[±sonorant] ([±son]) the articulatory difference is that the air pressure before and behind the constriction of [+son] segments is roughly the same, while it is different in the case of[-son] segments, since here an increase in air pressure is caused by the constriction

this feature distinguishes sonorants ([+son]) from obstruents ([-son]) [-son]: plosives, affricates, fricatives, laryngeal sounds [+son]: nasals, laterals, glides, vowels

[+son] sounds are produced with a vocal tract configuration in which spontaneous voicing is possible 14 Distinctive Features major class features

[±syllabic] ([±syl])

the feature [±syllabic] indicates whether the segment can function as a syllable peak [+syllabic]: vowels [-syllabic]: consonants and semi-vowels/glides

15 Distinctive Features major class features

the major class features can already distinguish important classes of segments

obstruents nasals liquids laryngeals vowels glides [±cons] + + + - - - [±son] - + + - + + [±syllabic] - - - - + -

(according to this definition, lateral and central approximants /l/ and /£ ²/ are liquids, but not rhotic trills as /r ³/)

16 Distinctive Features laryngeal features

[±voice] this feature indicates whether the sound is articulated with vibrating vocal folds ([+voice]) or not ([-voice]) [+voice]: vowels, glides, sonorant consonats such as /m n l r/ and voiced obstruents such as /b d g v z/ [-voice] are voiceless obstruents such as /p t k f s/

in German [±voice] is distinctive only for obstruents; sonorants are always [+voice] in other languages there are also [-voice] sonorants such as /lß/ in Toda: [kalß] ('pearl') vs. [kal] ('to study') 17 Distinctive Features laryngeal features

[±spread] alternatively: [±aspirated] ([±asp])

indicates whether the glottis, i.e. the vocal folds are spread

[+spread]: aspirated sounds such as /p t/, the fricative /h/

[±constricted] ([±constr])

indicates whether the vocal folds are constricted, such that the glottis is (nearly) closed

[+constriced]: ejectives, implosives, the glottal stop /?/ laryngealised sounds

18 Distinctive Features manner of articulation features

[±continuant] ([±cont]) [+cont] sounds allow for a continuous airflow through the oral cavity

[+cont]: fricatives, glides, vowels

[-cont]: plosives, affricates, nasals (airflow is through the nose!)

this feature distinguishes plosives ([-son,-cont]) from fricatives ([-son,+cont])

19 Distinctive Features manner of articulation features

[±nasal] ([±nas])

[+nasal] sounds are articulated with a lowered velum

[+nasal]: nasal consonants and nasal vowels, all other sounds are [-nasal]

[±lateral] ([±lat])

[+lateral] sounds are articulated with a central constriction of the oral cavity by the tongue, which is lowered at the sides

[+lateral]: /l ¢ K ¡/

20 Distinctive Features manner of articulation features

[±strident]

sibilant sounds with a high degree of 'noisiness' (in particular at high frequencies)

note that this is rather an auditive than articulatory motivated feature

[+strident]: /s z S Z tþs tþS dþZ/

[-strident]: /T D C x/

21 Distinctive Features manner of articulation features with these additional features one arrives at a more fine-grained classification of segments consonants [+cons]

obstruents sonorants [-son] [+son]

plosive fricative liquides nasals [-cont] [+cont] [-nas] [+nas]

laterale trills [+lat] [-lat] 22 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

place of articulation aspects of articulation cannot be adequately described by binary features

for instance, one may use a binary feature [±labial] to distinguish labial from non-labial sounds

so this would define two natural classes: the [+labial] sounds („the labials“) and the [-labial] sounds („the non-labials“)

the problem is, that in no known language „the non-labials“ play any distinguished role, for instance as input to any process

hence there is no phonological evidence for such a class 23 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

for this reason one better uses privative features

privative features are present or absent, but they do not have the values + or - and hence they do not define two classes but only one

privative features are noted with small caps e.g. [LABIAL]. The following are used:

[LABIAL] one or both lips used for articulation [CORONAL] tongue tip or blade used for articulation [DORSAL] tongue back (dorsum) used for articulation [RADICAL] tongue root (radix) used for articulation

each of these privative features introduces additional binary features to specify the place of articulation in greater detail 24 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

[LABIAL] ([LAB]) [±round]

sounds with the [LAB] feature are articulated with involvement of the lips

labial consonants are e.g. /p b f v m/, glides such as /w/ and rounded vowels such as /y 2 o u/

depending on how the lips are involved, [LAB] sounds are

[+round] if the lips a rounded, e.g. /y 2 o u/ or

[-round] if the lips are unrounded, e.g. /p b f v m/ 25 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

[CORONAL] ([COR]) [±anterior] ([±ant]) [±apical] ([±apic]) sounds with the [KOR] feature are articulated with involvement of the tongue tip (apex) or the tongue blade (lamina)

these comprises dental, alveolar, postalveolar and retroflex sounds, as well as palatal plosives, nasals, laterals and glides, but not palatal fricatives such as /C/

[+ant] sounds are build in front or at the teeth ridge (e.g. /t d s z/)

[-ant] sounds are build behind the teeth ridge (e.g. /S Z/)

the [±ant] feature can hence distinguish dental and alveolar sounds from postalveolar sounds 26 Distinctive Features place of articulation features [+apic] sounds are articulated by use of the tongue tip (apex), [-apic] are articulated non-apical, i.e. laminal or dental often one finds the feature [±distributed] (produced with a constriction that extends for a considerable distance along the direction of air flow), where [-distributed] = [+apical] [+apic]: retroflex sounds such as [µ ´] and alveolar sounds [t] [-apic]: postalveolar sounds as [S] and dental sounds as [tÏ] [t Ï] [t] [µ] [c] [COR] ü ü ü ü [±ant] + + - - [±apic] - + + - 27 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

[DORSAL] ([DORS]) [±back] [±high] [±low] [±tense] sounds with the [DORS] feature are articulated with the tongue back (dorsum)

this involves palatal fricatives, velare and uvular sounds, the glide /w/ as well as all vowels

[+back] segments are articulated with retracted dorsum (e.g. back/central vowels such as /u o a/, velar and uvular consonants as /k g x X ³/) [-back] segments are articulated with the dorsum moved forward (e.g. front vowels as /i y e/ or palatal fricatives /C/) 28 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

[+high] sounds are articulated with raised dorsum [+high]: high vowels such as /i y u/, palatal sounds such as /C/, velar sounds /k g x N/ [-high]: uvular segments such as /X ³/, mid- and low vowels such as /e o a/

[+low] sounds are articulated with lowered dorsum [+low]: low vowels /{ a/ [-low]: all other vowels, palatal, velar and uvular consonants

29 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

the following table illustrates the distinction between palatal, velar and uvular fricatives: /C/ /x/ /X/ [DORS] ü ü ü [±back] - + + [±high] + + -

by combination of the features [±high] and [±low] it is possible to distinguish three vowel heights:

high: [+high, -low] mid: [-high, -low] low: [-high, +low] 30 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

features of some vowels: /i/ /y/ /u/ /e/ /2/ /o/ /a/ [DORS] ü ü ü ü ü ü ü [±back] - - + - - + + [±high] + + + - - - - [±low] ------+ [LAB] ü ü ü ü [±round] + + + +

31 Distinctive Features place of articulation features

[±tense] [+tense] sounds are articulated with deliberate, accurate, maximally distinct tongue gestures that involve considerable muscle effort [+tense]: vowels such as /i y e o u/ [-tense]: vowels such as /I Y E O U/

[RADICAL] ([RAD]) indicates articulation with involvement of the tongue root, as in case of articulation of pharyngeal segments such as [ ¶] 32 Distinctive Features features & rules

using features, we get a different view on segments

a segment can then be identified with a feature bundle

for instance, the following feature bundle characterizes /m/

+cons +son -syl +voice -constr -cont +nas -lat -strid LAB -round 33 Distinctive Features features & rules

hence the underlying representation is just a sequence of such feature bundles

in this view, phonological rules transform certain features in these bundles

example: final devoicing in German

/b d g v z Z/ > [p t k f s S] / __ #

„voiced obstruents become voiceless word-finally“

the input to the rule, i.e. the natural class of voiced obstruenst can be specified by the feature bundle [-son, +voice] 34 Distinctive Features features & rules in the new format, the final devoicing rule looks as follows [-son, +voice] > [-voice] / __ # and this is what happens in case of the devoicing /ta:g/ > [ta:k] +cons -cons +cons +cons -cons +cons -son +son -son -son +son -son -syl +syl -syl -syl +syl -syl -voice +voice +voice -voice +voice -voice -constr -constr -constr -constr -constr -constr -cont +cont -cont -cont +cont -cont -nas -nas -nas # > -nas -nas -nas -lat -lat -lat -lat -lat -lat -strid -strid -strid -strid -strid -strid COR DORS DORS COR DORS DORS +ant +back +back +ant +back +back -high +high -high +high +low -low +low -low -tense -tense -tense -tense35 Distinctive Features features & rules

actually the rule can yet be simplified as follows:

[-son] > [-voice] / __ #

„obstruents become voiceless word-finally“

obviously, this rule has the same effect as the one before: [+voice] obstruents will change to [-voice] obstruents, while [-voice] obstruents will remain as they are

36 Distinctive Features features & rules assimilations can be stated much more adequately with features in the language Arabela (spoken in Peru) one finds a progressive assimilation w.r.t. nasalization all vowels, glides and laryngeal sounds following a nasalized consonant will also be nasalized

/nuwa/ > [nu~w~a~] („partridge“) the following segmental rule would describe this assimilation:

/i e o u a j w h/ > [i~ e~ o~ u~ a~ j~ w~ h~] / [m n] __ (iterative) the qualification (iterative) behind the rule specifies that it must be applied repeatedly 37 Distinctive Features features & rules

with features the assimilation can be stated more adequately:

[-cons] > [+nas] /[+cons, +nas] __ (iterative)

„a non-consonant becomes nasalized after a nasal consonant“

One can now immediately read of the four paramters of the assimilation:

1. targets: [-cons] (non-consonants) 2. triggers: [+cons, +nas] (nasal consonants) 3. feature: [+nas] (nasalization) 4. direction: progressive (coming from left environment)38 Distinctive Features features & rules

example: vowel harmony in Hungarian

[te:rke:p+r2:l] „map“ [lA:J+ro:l] „girl“ [f2:ld+r2:l] „country“ [u:r+ro:l] „gentleman“ [y+r2:l] „business“ [fog+ro:l] „tooth“ [si:n+r2:l] „colour“

observation: in the root all vowels are either [-back] or all vowels are [+back]

the vowel of suffix have the same [±back] feature as the vowel(s) of the root 39 Distinctive Features features & rules

the needed place assimilation must take care that the vowel of the suffix carries the same [±back] value as a root vowel (for instance, the last one) to indicate, that segments share the value for a feature, a greek letter such as α („alpha“) is used as a variable the rule for vowel harmony thus looks as follows

[-cons] > [αback] /[-cons, αback] C0 + C0 __ C0 # „A vowel that occurs in the suffix (possibly between some consonants) has the same value for the [±back] feature as the last vowel of the root“ 40 Distinctive Features German phonemes

the vowel phonemes of German are characterized by the following distinctive feature (ignoring vowel length):

i: I y: Y e: E/E: 2: 9 u: U o: O a/a: @ [±cons] ------[±back] ------+ + + + + + [±high] + + + + - - - - + + - - - - [±low] ------+ - [LAB] ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü [±tense] + - + - + - + - + - + - - -

41 Distinctive Features German phonemes the consonant phonemes of German are characterized by the following distinctive features:

[-voice] p t k f s S C h [+voice] b d g v z Z m n N l ³ j [±cons] + + + + + + + + + + + + - - [±son] ------+ + + + + + + [±cont] - - - + + + + - - - - + + + [±nas] ------+ + + - - - - [LAB] ü ü ü [KOR] ü ü ü ü ü ü [±ant] + - [DORS] ü ü ü ü 42 Exercise

1) Consider the German „ich/ach“ alternation rule and underlying /C/ ignoring diphthongs:

/C/ > [x] / [u: U o: O a:] __

a) State the rule be means of features

b) What phonological process is this rule an instance of?

3) Describe the following natural classes of German using a minimal number of distinctive features: (a) /p b m/ (b) /m n N l/ (c) /k g/ 43 Exercise

(d) /C k g N ³/ (e) /a a:/ (f) /i: I y: Y/ 3) For each of the following segments, change the feature given to the right. State the IPA symbol of the resulting sound.

(a) /u/ [±back] (b) /m/ [±nas,±son] (c) /d/ [±voice] (d) /C/ [±cont] (e) /t/ [±spread] (f) /2/ [±tense,±back] 44