Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure

Ch. 3: The description of consonants

Group work

• Quiz each other on the parameters of the table on p. 18

Q&A from handout

• What sounds in the table do not have Russian letters?

Q&A from handout

• What sounds in the table do not have Russian letters?– š, and ž, and ɣ and ʒ and ǯ– What role do they play?

Q&A from handout

• 3. What sounds in the table do not have Russian letters?– š, and ž, and ɣ and ʒ and ǯ– What role do they play?– Symmetry! Note, however, that the place of

articulation for š, and ž, is different than that of š and ž and these sounds are restricted to certain environments (see pp. 21-22)

Q&A from handout

• 4. Most of the blank spaces could be filled (compare with the IPA chart). What could be there?

Q&A from handout

• 4. Most of the blank spaces could be filled (compare with the IPA chart). What could be there?– Velar nasal, voiceless r, uvular r, ŋ, th, glottal

stop…

Q&A from handout

• 5. Note that some of the designations in the table are somewhat simplified or arbitrary. The Russian [v] is not fully an obstruent and sometimes acts like a glide, as we’ll see. Why might this be?

Q&A from handout

• 5. Note that some of the designations in the table are somewhat simplified or arbitrary. The Russian [v] is not fully an obstruent and sometimes acts like a glide, as we’ll see. The relatively recent history of this sound helps us understand its status.

Q&A from handout

• Discuss #6. Note the connectedness of phones in the chart. It is very real! Every phone bears a series of relationships to other phones and this affects their behavior as subgroups.

Q&A from handout

• 7. What is the difference between palatal & palatalized?

Q&A from handout

• 7. What is the difference between palatal & palatalized?– Palatal is a primary articulation, it describes

an essential property of a sound – Palatalized is a secondary articulation, it

describes an additional, not a primary articulation

Q&A from handout

• 8. What is the issue with the palatalized labials?

Q&A from handout

• 8. What is the issue with the palatalized labials?– There is a conflict between the primary and

secondary tonality. Labials are naturally very low in tonality (like velars). Palatalization gives a heightened tonality. This is an unstable combination and can dissimilate/diphthongize, cf. Cz běžet [bježet]

Q&A from handout

• 9. What is the vocalic version of [v]?

Q&A from handout

• 9. What is the vocalic version of [v]?– [u]! The parallelism between [i] and [u] will

become clear when we get to the vowels…

Q&A from handout

• 10. Transcribe– дач– вял– боль– свой– рожь

Q&A from handout

• 10. Transcribe– дач [da’č,]– вял [v,a’l]– боль [bo’ļ]– свой [svo’j]– рожь [ro’ž]

Q&A from handout

• 11. Write the correct Russian word:– [p,a’n]– [jo’š]– [po’t]– [p,jo’t]– [la’j]

Q&A from handout

• 11. Write the correct Russian word:– [p,a’n] пян– [jo’š] еж– [po’t] пот– [p,jo’t] пьет– [la’j] лай

Q&A from handout

• 12. What do they have in common?– š, ž, č, j ǯ,

Q&A from handout

• 12. What do they have in common?– š, ž, č, j ǯ, – Palatals– f s š x

Q&A from handout

• 12. What do they have in common?– š, ž, č, j ǯ, – Palatals– f s š x– Voiceless fricatives– p b m

Q&A from handout

• 12. What do they have in common?– š, ž, č, j ǯ, – Palatals– f s š x– Voiceless fricatives– p b m– Labials– p t k

Q&A from handout

• 12. What do they have in common?– š, ž, č, j ǯ, – Palatals– f s š x– Voiceless fricatives– p b m– Labials– p t k– Voiceless stops

A couple of last notes...

• It is very important to remember that Russian, unlike English, lacks aspiration! Can you pronounce unaspirated voiceless stops accurately???

• Note that Russian [t] and [d] are true dentals, unlike English t and d. Russians can hear the difference! Can you????

• Getting these two things right will do a LOT to reduce your foreign accent!