Phonology (George Yule) PDF

# Chapter 4: The Sound Patterns of Language ## Introduction - This chapter explores the physical production of speech sounds, focusing on the human vocal tract. - It highlights the variations in how individuals pronounce sounds due to physical differences in their vocal tracts, and the influence o...

# Chapter 4: The Sound Patterns of Language ## Introduction - This chapter explores the physical production of speech sounds, focusing on the human vocal tract. - It highlights the variations in how individuals pronounce sounds due to physical differences in their vocal tracts, and the influence of factors like shouting, sickness, or even a desire for an additional martini. - The concept of *phonology* is introduced - the study of sound systems and patterns in a language. - Phonology focuses on the *abstract* or *mental* aspects of sound, rather than the physical articulation of speech sounds. - The chapter uses the story of Goldilocks as an example of how phonological knowledge allows us to overcome unusual spellings and understand the underlying sounds of words. ## Phonemes - Phonemes are meaning-distinguishing sounds in a language. - They are represented by a single written symbol. - Phonemes are distinct because they have contrastive properties. If changing one sound in a word changes its meaning, the sounds are distinct phonemes. ## Natural Classes - Natural classes are groups of sounds that share common features. - These features are represented as *distinctive features*, marked by a plus sign (+) if present or minus sign (-) if absent. ## Phones and Allophones - Phones are the actual physical realizations of a sound type. - Allophones are a set of phones that are all versions of a single phoneme. - The pronunciation of a phoneme can vary depending on the surrounding sounds, creating different allophones. ## Complementary Distribution - When two allophones of a phoneme are used in different places in words, they are said to be in *complementary distribution*. - Their occurrences never overlap, meaning they are predictable based on their context. ## Minimal Pairs and Sets - Minimal pairs are two words that differ in only one phoneme. - Minimal sets are a group of words that differ in only one phoneme, each with a different phoneme. ## Phonotactics - Phonotactics refers to the permissible sound combinations in a language. - It helps to understand why certain sounds are possible in a language while others are not. - The chapter uses examples to illustrate the patterns of allowable sound sequences, as well as those that represent "accidental" gaps in a language's vocabulary. ## Syllables - A syllable must contain a vowel or vowel-like sound. - The basic elements of a syllable are the *onset* (one or more consonants), the *nucleus* (vowel), and the *coda* (consonants). - Open syllables lack a coda, while closed syllables have a coda. ## Consonant Clusters - Consonant clusters are combinations of two or more consonants. - They can occur in both the onset and coda of a syllable. ## Coarticulation Effects - Coarticulation describes the process of making one sound almost at the same time as the next sound. - It is a common phenomenon, especially in fast speech, and results in variations in pronunciation. ### Assimilation - Assimilation occurs when two sounds are near each other and one takes on a feature of the other. - It is a regular process that makes speech more efficient and easier for the articulators. ### Nasalization - Nasalization occurs when a vowel is influenced by a following nasal consonant. - It results in the nasal quality being "copied" into the vowel sound. ### Elision - Elision is the omission of a sound segment, often a consonant, in a word. - It is common in relaxed speech and can occur especially in consonant clusters and between vowels. ## Normal Speech - Assimilation, nasalization, and elision are regular processes in normal speech. - Understanding these regularities helps to appreciate the actual use of sounds in language. ## Study Questions - Provides a set of questions to test knowledge of the concepts covered in the chapter. ## Tasks - Provides a set of tasks to apply the knowledge learned in the chapter. - These tasks cover a range of topics, from identifying features of sounds to analyzing patterns in pronunciation. ## Bob Belviso Translated - Presents a playful interpretation of a passage written in a highly unusual spelling. - Demonstrates how phonological knowledge can help us to understand the underlying meaning even when confronted with unconventional spellings. ## Further Reading - Provides suggestions for further exploration of the topics discussed in the chapter. - Includes resources for both basic and more advanced study. - Organized into categories: basic treatments, more detailed treatments, syllables, and phonotactics.