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Phonology, part 6: Syllables and Phonotactics

Phonology, part 6: Syllables and Phonotactics. November 7, 2012. The Road Ahead. Let’s go back to the practice exercises from last class… Phonology Homework: still due on the Wednesday after the break (November 14 th ). I’ll try to get it out by tonight.

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Phonology, part 6: Syllables and Phonotactics

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  1. Phonology, part 6: Syllables and Phonotactics November 7, 2012

  2. The Road Ahead • Let’s go back to the practice exercises from last class… • Phonology Homework: still due on the Wednesday after the break (November 14th). • I’ll try to get it out by tonight.

  3. And now for something completely different. • A (very) long time ago… • I talked about the fact that there are some strings of (English) sounds which don’t sound like they could possibly be English words. • Possible English words: • plab forch beeg shump staz hibber crong trab • Unpossible English words: • fmort glsik rmak msile vlash zpin ngotch ptud • The unpossible English words violate what are called the phonotactic rules of the language.

  4. Syllable Structure • In order to understand phonotactics, it is necessary to first take a look at syllables and syllable structure. • Syllables are suprasegmental units; • they organize segments into minimal-sized utterances in a language. • Syllables have three sub-parts: • the onset • the nucleus • the coda • Together, the nucleus and coda form the rhyme.

  5. Sonority and Syllables • Syllables are generally organized around a phonological property called sonority. • basically: sonority = perceived loudness • Sonorants (vowels, liquids, nasals, glides) have lots of sonority; • obstruents (stops and fricatives) have less. • Basic idea: the most sonorous segments in a syllable form the “peak” or nucleus of the syllable. • vowels make good peaks; • sonorant consonants are second-best; • obstruents are really bad…

  6. For Example • [bæd] is a well-formed syllable in English. • [æ] • [b] [d] high sonority low sonority

  7. Sonority and Syllables • [blænd] works well, too. • [æ] • [l] [n] • [b] [d] high sonority low sonority

  8. Technical Terms • [æ] • [l] [n] • [b] [d] sonority peak high sonority low sonority

  9. Technical Terms • The sonority peak forms the nucleus of the syllable. • [æ] • [l] [n] • [b] [d] nucleus high sonority low sonority

  10. Technical Terms • The sonority peak forms the nucleus of the syllable. • The sounds that precede the nucleus form the syllable onset. • [æ] • [l] [n] • [b] [d] onset high sonority low sonority

  11. Technical Terms • The sonority peak forms the nucleus of the syllable. • The sounds that precede the nucleus form the syllable onset. • The sounds that follow the nucleus form the syllable coda. • [æ] • [l] [n] • [b] [d] coda high sonority low sonority

  12. Technical Terms • The sonority peak forms the nucleus of the syllable. • The sounds that precede the nucleus form the syllable onset. • The sounds that follow the nucleus form the syllable coda. • Together, the nucleus and coda form the syllable rhyme. • [æ] • [l] [n] • [b] [d] rhyme high sonority low sonority

  13. Syllable Formation • In order to figure out how to organize a word into syllables, first identify the syllable nuclei • = vowels and any syllabic consonants • Example: “America”     N N N N O O O [ʌ m ɛ r ɪ k ʌ] • Then identify any potential onsets to each syllable • = consonants preceding the nuclei

  14. Phonotactics • Phonotactic constraints determine what sounds can be put together to form the different parts of a syllable in a language. • Ex: English onsets • /kl/ is okay: “clean” “clamp” • /pl/ is okay: “play” “plaque” • */tl/ is not okay: *tlay *tlamp • If we ever encounter a word that starts with /tl/, we have to do something about it. • How do you say “Tlingit”? • Or “Dmitri”?

  15. Let’s Try Another…   “arcade” N C O N C [a r k e j d] Note 1: both halves of a diphthong combine into one nucleus • Note 2: [rk] is not a possible onset! • The [r] has to form the coda of the preceding syllable So, Step 3 = remaining consonants go into codas.

  16. The Possibilities are not Endless • Q: What combination of consonants can form a possible onset? • A: Any combo that can be found at the beginning of a word. • [θr] can start a word (“three”), so “arthritic” is syllabified like this:    N C O N O N C [a r θ r ɪ t ɪ k]

  17. The Possibilities are not Endless • [tl] and [nt] cannot start words (in English), so they cannot form legal syllable onsets. • Check out the syllabification for “Atlantic”:    N C O N C O N C [ɛ t l æ n t ɪ k]

  18. Interesting Patterns • Check out the following words: • Atlantic atrocious • America arcade • astronomy arthritic • When is the first vowel a [ʌ]? • Is there a difference between the /t/ in ‘atrocious’ and the /t/ in ‘Atlantic’? • Why?

  19. The Last Quick Write

  20. The Last Quick Write

  21. Other Languages • Phonotactic constraints may become active when words cross language boundaries • In Spanish, the following consonant clusters cannot start a syllable or a word: • */sp/ • */st/ • */sk/ • Example Spanish pronunciation of English: • “student” 

  22. Sound Substitution • In borrowings, languages often substitute native sounds for non-native sounds • They may also break up sound sequences to satisfy native phonotactics. • Example: • English “birth control” • Japanese: • Or Hawaiian: [mele kelikimaka] for “Merry Christmas”

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