Phonology from the ground up: The basics Phonology from the ground up: The basics Stephen A. Marlett Copyright © 2019 by Stephen A. Marlett This is the April 2019 version of the text. Two indexes have been included, but they are incomplete. While the material is copyrighted, the author gives permission for fair use of the material for educational purposes. To communicate with the author (to suggest improvements, report errors, etc.), please use the following address: [email protected]. Likewise, if written permission is needed to make photocopies for classroom use, contact him through that address. This edition has not addressed recent changes in the expectations of the Journal of the International Phonetic Association with respect to the presentation of the facts. The next version will do so. A preliminary Spanish translation of this work has been prepared and used. If you are interested in using it, please contact the author at the address above. Contents List of figures ............................................. xv List of tables ............................................. xvii Preface................................................ xix Acknowledgments........................................... xxi Part I Overview & key ideas 1. Introduction............................................ 2 1.1. Some characteristics of M-phonology . 3 1.2. Some characteristics of P-phonology . 3 1.3. Our goal:understanding of the system . 4 1.4. Why study P-phonology? . 5 1.5. Suggested additional reading. 5 1.6. Key terms........................................... 5 1.7. Reading questions ....................................... 6 1.8. Exercises ........................................... 6 2. Object of study........................................... 7 2.1. What are phonological descriptions about? . 7 2.2. Language variation....................................... 10 2.3. Examples ........................................... 11 2.4. Achecklist for the opening section of a write-up. 11 2.5. Key terms and ideas . 14 2.6. Reading questions ....................................... 14 2.7. Exercises ........................................... 15 3. Key ideas ............................................. 18 3.1. Phoneme ........................................... 19 3.2. Distinctive feature . 22 v vi Contents 3.3. Syllable ............................................ 22 3.4. Some other useful concepts . 23 3.5. Key terms........................................... 24 3.6. Reading questions ....................................... 24 3.7. Exercises ........................................... 25 Part II The syllable 4. The basic notion of the syllable . 28 4.1. Poetry............................................. 28 4.2. Edge phenomena ....................................... 29 4.3. Possible word ......................................... 29 4.4. Word games and hidden languages . 30 4.5. Suggested additional reading. 31 4.6. Key terms........................................... 31 4.7. Reading questions ....................................... 31 4.8. Exercises ........................................... 31 5. Syllable templates ......................................... 32 5.1. What the template [CV]max allows for .............................. 33 5.2. Other maximal syllable templates. 33 5.3. Caveat about word edges. 33 5.4. Obligatory Onset Parameter . 34 5.5. Syllabification ......................................... 34 5.6. Syllables and sounds. 35 5.7. Minor patterns......................................... 35 5.8. Syllabic nasals ......................................... 36 5.9. Syllables for general audiences . 37 5.10. Summary and example . 37 5.11. Key terms .......................................... 38 5.12. Reading questions ...................................... 38 5.13. Exercises........................................... 40 6. Word edges and extrametricality . 41 6.1. When the syllable is not enough . 41 6.2. The special nature of word-initial position. 41 6.3. The special nature of word-final position . 42 6.4. Extrametrical consonants and word edges. 42 6.5. Extrametrical consonants and morphemes . 42 6.6. Two examples ......................................... 44 6.7. Suggested additional reading. 44 6.8. Key term and ideas ...................................... 44 6.9. Reading questions ....................................... 44 6.10. Exercises........................................... 45 7. Internal structure of syllables . 46 7.1. Constituency issues . 46 7.2. Heavy and light syllables . 47 7.3. Syllable weight and moras . 47 Contents vii 7.4. Syllabic consonants ...................................... 48 7.5. Other special syllables . 48 7.6. Practical tips.......................................... 48 7.7. Checklist for syllable structure write-ups . 49 7.8. Suggested additional reading. 49 7.9. Key terms........................................... 49 7.10. Reading questions ...................................... 50 8. Constraints with respect to syllables. 51 8.1. Language-specific constraints. 51 8.2. Universal constraints. 52 8.3. Special nuclei ......................................... 53 8.4. High vowels in onsets . 53 8.5. Nucleus,onset,or coda? . 53 8.6. Suggested additional reading. 55 8.7. Key terms and ideas . 55 8.8. Reading questions ....................................... 55 8.9. Exercises ........................................... 56 9. Linking features to the syllables . 57 9.1. Contour segments and the skeletal tier . 57 9.2. Alternative analyses reviewed. 60 9.3. Multiple possibilities. 62 9.4. Long vowels and consonants . 62 9.5. Unrelatedness to phonemic analysis . 63 9.6. These issues for general audiences . 63 9.7. Contour segments and alphabets . 63 9.8. Suggested additional reading. 64 9.9. Key terms and ideas . 64 9.10. Reading questions ...................................... 64 9.11. Exercises........................................... 65 Part III Phonemes & features: methodology 10. Basic methodology:data . 68 10.1. Keeping control of morphological complexity . 68 10.2. Not all words in the language count the same . 69 10.3. Loanwords ......................................... 70 10.4. Suggested additional reading. 70 10.5. Key terms and ideas . 70 10.6. Reading questions. 71 10.7. Exercises .......................................... 71 11. Basic methodology:transcriptions . 72 11.1. Orthographic representation. 72 11.2. Narrow transcriptions . 72 11.3. Broad and phonemic transcriptions . 73 11.4. Avoiding ambiguity . 74 11.5. Practical notes........................................ 74 viii Contents 11.6. Different traditions . 74 11.7. Key terms.......................................... 75 11.8. Reading questions. 75 12. Basic methodology:presentation of contrasting elements . 76 12.1. Presentation of the inventory of phonemes . 79 12.2. Presentation of supporting data . 82 12.3. Expectations ........................................ 85 12.4. Achecklist for the presentation of data in write-ups . 88 12.5. Anote on sources ...................................... 88 12.6. Phonemes for general audiences . 89 12.7. Suggested additional reading. 89 12.8. Key terms and ideas . 89 12.9. Reading questions. 90 12.10. Exercises.......................................... 91 13. Basic methodology:presentation of phonetic detail. 94 13.1. The effect of adjacent sounds . 95 13.2. The effect of stress . 95 13.3. The effect of position . 95 13.4. Variation .......................................... 95 13.5. Phonetic detail in phonological write-ups . 97 13.6. Descriptions of phonetic detail in the real world . 98 13.7. Key terms and ideas . 99 13.8. Reading questions. 99 Part IV Phonemes & features: typology 14. Voice............................................... 102 14.1. Some tips.......................................... 106 14.2. Alternation evidence (allomorphy) pointing to an analysis . 106 14.3. Voicing across word boundaries . 108 14.4. Expectations ........................................ 108 14.5. Limited distribution . 109 14.6. Change over time ...................................... 109 14.7. Narrowing the focus of study. ..