Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure

Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure Ch 16: Using the symbol {#}

1. Discussion • “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea, but where do we run into problems?

1. Discussion • “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea, but where do we run into problems? • Well, just about everywhere • Does prefix у- have one meaning? • Does the infinitive morpheme have one shape? • Does the Dsg morpheme have either?

2. Definitions • Contrastive distribution:

2. Definitions • Contrastive distribution: • When two items appear in the same environment, and can thus contrast • Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат • Complementary distribution:

2. Definitions • Contrastive distribution: • When two items appear in the same environment, and can thus contrast • Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат • Complementary distribution: • When two items never appear in the same environment and cannot contrast • Eg. English aspirated and unaspirated stops, or Russian [c] vs. []

2. Definitions, cont’d. • Free variation:

2. Definitions, cont’d. • Free variation: • When two items can appear in the same environment, but don’t seem to contrast anyhow • Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. –ею/-ою • Neutralization:

2. Definitions, cont’d. • Free variation: • When two items can appear in the same environment, but don’t seem to contrast anyhow • Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. –ею/-ою • Neutralization: • When only one of a set of options can appear in a given environment (eg. only voiceless obstruents appear word-finally)

3. Morpheme boundaries • What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker?

3. Morpheme boundaries • What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker? • phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending • How can we tell?

3. Morpheme boundaries • What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker? • phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending • How can we tell? • Phrase & word boundaries cause final devoicing • Preposition/prefix boundary shows t, p, b not softening before ъV • Suffix/ending shows /o/,/a/ > []

4. Vowel-zero • What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation and what’s with {l}?

4. Vowel-zero • What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation and what’s with {l}? • If you have two consecutive syllables with {#} as the vowel, the one to the left becomes a vowel, and the one to the right drops • The vowel is basic o, unless it is surrounded by soft consonants or /š/, /ž/, /c/, in which case it is basic e • {l} “likes” to be soft

6. Inventory of non-root morphemes thus far… • So what are they?

6. Inventory of non-root morphemes thus far…

7. What’s the point? • Is there any advantage to having a vowel-zero alternation?

7. What’s the point? • Is there any advantage to having a vowel-zero alternation? • It can serve as a redundant index of part of a paradigm (similar to stress)

8. Can you write this in Russian? • {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx}

8. Can you write this in Russian? • {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx} • «Не швы во вшах, а вши во швах»

9. Give the morphophonemic transcriptions

Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure