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MesmerizedMoldavite7389

Uploaded by MesmerizedMoldavite7389

ANTH/LING

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minimal pairs phonology phonetics linguistics

Summary

This document provides examples of using minimal pairs with examples from Akan and Hindi Languages to identify the distribution of allophones and phonemes. It explores the concept that speakers of a language will differentiate minimal pairs of sounds.

Full Transcript

Using Minimal Pairs to solve Phonology Problems — Minimal pairs help us determine the distribution of allophones and phonemes in other languages. — If we find a minimal pair, we know that the sounds in question are allophones of different phonemes. — Let’s try a little phonology problem now. 17 U...

Using Minimal Pairs to solve Phonology Problems — Minimal pairs help us determine the distribution of allophones and phonemes in other languages. — If we find a minimal pair, we know that the sounds in question are allophones of different phonemes. — Let’s try a little phonology problem now. 17 Using Minimal Pairs to solve Phonology Problems Consider the following data from Akan, which is spoken in Ghana. [ka] [nsa] [pam] bite hand sew [kã] speak [nsã] liquor [pãm] confederate — Are [a] and [ã] allophones of the same phoneme or are they of different phonemes? — What is your evidence? 18 Using Minimal Pairs to solve Phonology Problems If we find a minimal pair, it means that speakers of that language do not consider the sounds in question to be “the same”. A minimal pair means that a speaker hears the two sounds as different and uses that difference to distinguish between two different words (pet and bet). Remember: if we find a minimal pair, we know that the sounds in question are allophones of different phonemes. Back to Hindi — Consider the following: [kap] [kaph] cup phlegm [phəl] [pəl] fruit moment — Are [p] and [ph] allophones of the same phoneme or of different phonemes? How do you know? — You’ve just discovered something about the unconscious linguistic knowledge of a Hindi speaker! 20

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