Phonology.ppt

Yun-Pi Yuan Phonology Definition Processes affecting sounds Syllables, Syllable structure Mandarin syllable structure Suprasegmentals Phonemes, Allophones Phonetic difference vs. phonemic difference Transcription Phonological rules, Morphophonemic rules Allowable sequences of phonemes Interaction between phonology and other aspects of language Phonology Describes and explains sound patterns (systems); the abstract (or mental) aspect of sounds Sound patterns: Sets of sounds List of sounds that belong to one lang.; sets of phonemes; possible speech sounds in all languages Arrangements of sounds Order: e.g, CV, CVC, V Processes affecting sounds Processes Affecting Sounds Addition Adding a sound which wasn’t there before e.g., gamle ? gamble Deletion contraction in fast speech, e.g., “I’ll” friendship Substitution (or changing) Assimilation Rearrangement E.g, comfortable ? comftorble Syllables (1) Definition: a unit more “natural” (i.e., psychologically real) for most people than individual sounds When dividing words into smaller units ? usually syllables; e.g., “im-por-tant” The importance of syllables in poetry/song: Meter Rhyme Recite alphabet in syllables Many forms of writing (began or) based on the syllable Syllables (2) Alphabet vs. Letter The alphabets: the set of letters How many alphabets are there in Eng.? In Japanese? 26 letters of the alphabet Syllabic alphabet: one symbol represents one syllable. Ex: Japanese Syllable structure: a syllable always contains a vowel or a vowel-like sound. Syllable Structure(1) Syllable (onset) rime nucleus (coda) F F (consonant(s)) vowel (consonant(s)) (or syllabic consonant) (A structure basically fit into any language.) Syllable Structure (2) Examples: V: “I” /aI/ CV: “do” /du/ VC:/?m/ CVC:/nAt/ /laIk/ VCC: “egg