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Generative Phonology
Robert Mannell
based on web based notes by web-based
Jonathan Harrington
Introduction (1) ( )
We have already examined three levels of abstraction in representing the sound structure of a language: language:a phonetic level (reasonably concrete) a phonemic level phonological (distinctive) features
Ideally the phonetic level is concrete and measurable but we often use simplifications that are to some extent abstract For example we may say abstract. example, that a vowel is nasalised but there are, in reality, degrees of nasalisation.
Introduction (2) ( )
In this lecture the terms root word or root form may be used. The term root is equivalent to the alternative term stem stem. A root word or stem is a word without additional affixes (prefixes, infixes or suffixes) A root form is the underlying (or cognitive) phonemic form of a root word. eg. the root form in the word dogs is /d/
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Introduction (3) ( )
The idea of underlying representations is an essential part of generative phonology. The underlying representation (or underlying form) of a root word or morpheme can be transformed into other forms (derived surface surface forms) by rules. (Chomsky and Halle,1968) Individual rules can be expressed in terms of f phonemes or distinctive features (or both).
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Introduction (4) ( )
An underlying representation is regarded in regarded, generative phonology, as the underlying form of a word or morpheme morpheme. Underlying forms are expressed in terms of phonemes. A surface form is the broad/phonemic transcription of how a word or morpheme is actually pronounced in a particular context.
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Introduction (5) ( )
An underlying representation is transformed into a surface realisation as a consequence of transformational rules rules. These rules might cause a word, which has a single phonemic underlying form, to be actually pronounced using different phonemes.
Introduction (6) ( )
The underlying form of a word (in the mental lexicon) is not just its underlying phonemic form, form but also the rules which transform that word into different surface forms (i.e. different phonemes) in different contexts contexts.
Introduction (7) ( )
Surface form, in generative phonology form phonology, refers to the choice of phonemes used to actually pronounce a word or morpheme morpheme, NOT to the allophones used. The underlying form of a morpheme is often written as follows:{-s}, { } representing th underlying f ti the d l i form ( ith (with phoneme /s/) of the plural morpheme.
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Plural morpheme attached to end of root word. Rule 1, applied first: /s/ /z/ / [+sib] _ Rule 2 applied second: /s/ 2, /z/ / [+voice] _ No rule required to obtain underlying /s/ as this is what remains if rules 1 and 2 fail fail.
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If the underlying last phoneme of these words is /s/ then {-s} /z/.
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Tagalog (1) g g( )
On the web page associated with this topic there is also a worked example for Tagalog. This data includes a vowel deletion rule, a vowel raising rule /o/ /u/ and a metathesis rule. A metathesis rule, most often applied to a pair of adjacent consonants, is the swapping /pt/ of the order of the consonants. /tp/
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Tagalog (2) g g( )
An example of a metathesis rule is: is:/atip/ /atp/ /apt/ /atip/ is the simple form / p/ /atp/ following a vowel deletion rule g /apt/ following metathesis of the last two consonants
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Tagalog (3) g g( )
You should work through the Tagalog example on the web site. The main problem that people have with this example is with the meaning of the term suffixed form. Its the form that the root takes when its followed by a suffix i.e. bukas i b k buks h ld be b k should b read as d bukas buks + an buksan
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Zoque (1) q ( )
For the Mexican language Zoque no obvious Zoque, simple form seems to have been supplied. We would normally expect a singular rather than a plural form to be a simple form. We have (for example) clothes, my clothes and his clothes. Plural is common to all forms. my or his morphemes are added to the plural clothes is simpler than my clothes and his clothes. (true for 5 out of 7 examples)
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Zoque (2) q ( )
plural pama tatah tuwi kaju k j tsin mok k atsi my mbama ndatah nduwi aju j ndzin mok k atsi his pjama tatah tatah tuwi kjaju kj j tin mjok j k jatsi clothes father dog horse pine corn brother
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In all cases the meanings are plural. e.g. dogs, my dogs, his dogs
Zoque (3) q ( )
A quick look at the first two columns shows for shows, the first five examples, that a nasal has been added to the front of the stem and the voiceless stops and affricates have become voiced. e.g. pama mbama (the clothes my clothes) This nasal prefix hasnt got a clear place of articulation. Well call it /n/ for convenience. We ll /n/ assimilates to the place of assimilation of any following [-cont] (oral or nasal stop or [ cont] affricate)
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Zoque (4) q ( )
[-voice cont] [ voice -cont] voiceless stops and affricates become voiced i.e. [-voice] [+voice] e.g. e g pama mpama mbama (/p/ /b/) resulting geminates simplify e.g. mok k mmok k mok k nasals delete before glottal stop e.g. atsi natsi atsi
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Zoque (5) q ( )
A quick glance at the third column suggests that /j/ is inserted in many examples e.g. e g pama pjama In the other 3 cases we get an affricate, but the affricate is post-alveolar. Post-alveolar can be considered to be a palatalised alveolar. e.g. tuwi i tjuwi j i tjuwi j i tuwi i tsin tsjin tjin tin insert assimilate d l i i il delete
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Conclusion (1) ( )
In this lecture we have examined generative phonology and have introduced the idea of underlying representations (UR) and surface forms. We have also examined the rules that govern the generation of surface forms from URs. Implicit knowledge of morpheme/word URs and the rules that generate surface forms are essential for linguistic competence in a g p language.
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Conclusion (2) ( )
The URs of word stems (root words) and affixes can be derived, with often some effort, via analysis of linguistic data This process is data. greatly helped by knowledge of common generative rules rules. Some generative rules follow common phonetic and phonological patterns, but some rules seem idiosyncratic to a particular language ( speech community convention) l (a h i i )
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Conclusion (3) ( )
Common rules include:include: assimilation (place and voicing) cluster simplification (i l di geminates) l t i lifi ti (including i t ) phoneme deletion phoneme pair metathesis (swapping) vowel rounding, spreading, raising, lowering, fronting, backing phoneme insertion
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Conclusion (4) ( )
In many examples the determination of the URs of root words is easy and the main task is determining the URs of the suffixes suffixes, prefixes and infixes. Sometimes, however, neither are clear and the full picture must be built up gradually from a series of tested hypotheses. f f
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Further Reading g
You should read the topic web page at: at:http://clas.mq.edu.au/speech/phonetics/phonology/generative/index.html
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