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Phonology Phonology →→ PhoneticsPhonetics

Understanding FeaturesUnderstanding Features

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Richness of the BaseThe source of all systematic cross-linguistic variation is constraint reranking. In particular, the set of inputs to the grammars of all languages is the same. The grammatical inventories of a language are the outputs which emerge from the grammar when it is fed the universal set of all possible inputs (Smolensky 1996).

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ROTBROTB Constraint ranking is everything!Constraint ranking is everything! Simplistic view of featuresSimplistic view of features

Have specific phonetic definitions.Have specific phonetic definitions. Features mapped to phonetics.Features mapped to phonetics.

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What about variability?What about variability? Views on variabilityViews on variability

Multiple grammarsMultiple grammars Variable/unranked constraints/rulesVariable/unranked constraints/rules Stochastic OT/processesStochastic OT/processes

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Enter featuresEnter features View from the world of phonological View from the world of phonological

contrast.contrast. Some featural alternation could be feature Some featural alternation could be feature

interpretation, i.e., phonology interpretation, i.e., phonology →→ phonetics phonetics mapping.mapping.

Not all variation is in the phonology.Not all variation is in the phonology. Some might be allophonic (in the phonology).Some might be allophonic (in the phonology).

Example: Voicing assimilation in EnglishExample: Voicing assimilation in English Others might be allo-phonetic (in the phonetics).Others might be allo-phonetic (in the phonetics).

Jeff and I coined the second term. Jeff and I coined the second term. . . Example: onset [ s ] might be diff. from a coda [ s ].Example: onset [ s ] might be diff. from a coda [ s ].

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Laryngeal FeaturesLaryngeal Features Classic viewClassic view

[+/- voiced][+/- voiced] Any voicing distinction is to be Any voicing distinction is to be

interpreted in terms of this feature.interpreted in terms of this feature.English/German -English/German - bb -- [+voiced] [+voiced] pphh -- [-voiced] [-voiced]

French/SpanishFrench/Spanish - - bb -- [+voiced] [+voiced] pp -- [-voiced] [-voiced]

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Simplified Phonetic Facts Simplified Phonetic Facts 11

English/German English/German a. /orthographic-b/a. /orthographic-b/[b] -[b] - fully voicedfully voiced(or) (or) [p] - [p] - voiceless unaspiratedvoiceless unaspirated (utterance initially, variably)(utterance initially, variably)b. /orthographic-p/b. /orthographic-p/[p[phh] -] - aspirated voicelessaspirated voiceless(or) (or) [p] - [p] - voiceless unaspiratedvoiceless unaspirated (after ‘s’, other v.less. frics?)(after ‘s’, other v.less. frics?)

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Simplified Phonetic Facts Simplified Phonetic Facts 22

French/SpanishFrench/Spanish a. /orthographic-b/a. /orthographic-b/[b] -[b] - fully voicedfully voiced

b. /orthographic-p/b. /orthographic-p/ [p] - [p] - voiceless unaspiratedvoiceless unaspirated (after ‘s’, other v.less. frics?)(after ‘s’, other v.less. frics?) -- variable voicingvariable voicing

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Further simplified factsFurther simplified factsEnglish/German - English/German - /b/ is variable/b/ is variable

/p/phh/ is consistent/ is consistent

French/Spanish -French/Spanish - /b/ is consistent/b/ is consistent/p/ is variable/p/ is variable

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Laryngeal RealismLaryngeal Realism English/GermanEnglish/German

/orthographic-p/ is specified for /orthographic-p/ is specified for aspiration.aspiration.

/orthographic-b/ is unspecified, so it /orthographic-b/ is unspecified, so it varies (to some extent).varies (to some extent).

French/SpanishFrench/Spanish /orthographic-b/ is specified for voicing./orthographic-b/ is specified for voicing. /orthographic-p/ is unspecified, so it /orthographic-p/ is unspecified, so it

varies (to some extent).varies (to some extent).

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Laryngeal RealismLaryngeal Realism English/GermanEnglish/German

pphh vs.vs. ØØ

French/SpanishFrench/Spanish bb vs.vs. ØØ

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Assumption in Laryngeal Assumption in Laryngeal RealismRealism

Couched in underspecification theoryCouched in underspecification theory Unspecified features do not play a Unspecified features do not play a

role in phonology.role in phonology. No processes use them as triggers No processes use them as triggers

(in structural descriptions).(in structural descriptions). Testable statementTestable statement Seems to be true of laryngeal Seems to be true of laryngeal

features.features.

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However, we haven’t talked However, we haven’t talked about features yet!about features yet!

English/GermanEnglish/German pphh vs.vs. ØØ

If consistently aspirated, then must be specified for If consistently aspirated, then must be specified for aspiration – [+ spread glottis]aspiration – [+ spread glottis]

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However, we haven’t talked However, we haven’t talked about features yet!about features yet!

French/SpanishFrench/Spanish bb vs.vs. ØØ

If consistently voiced, then must be specified for If consistently voiced, then must be specified for voicing – [+ voiced]voicing – [+ voiced]

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What can be a possible What can be a possible feature?feature?

Theory of featuresTheory of features Avery-Idsardi (2001) InnovationAvery-Idsardi (2001) Innovation Articulators, Dimensions, Gestures.Articulators, Dimensions, Gestures.

Articulators group dimensions.Articulators group dimensions. Dimensions group antagonistic Dimensions group antagonistic

gestures. gestures.

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3D Larynx3D Larynx

3D Larynx3D Larynx

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Dimensional TheoryDimensional Theory

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Essence of Dimensional Essence of Dimensional TheoryTheory

Phonology looks as far as Phonology looks as far as DimensionsDimensions, no lower., no lower.

To be honest, there are exceptions to To be honest, there are exceptions to do with ‘headhood’ – we won’t go do with ‘headhood’ – we won’t go into that part of their theory. into that part of their theory.

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Dimensional TheoryDimensional Theory

Phonological Features

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However, we haven’t talked However, we haven’t talked about features yet!about features yet!

English/GermanEnglish/German pphh vs.vs. ØØ

XX vs. vs. X X || | |

GWGW Ø Ø

If consistently aspirated, then must be specified for If consistently aspirated, then must be specified for Glottal Width.Glottal Width. Phonetics takes care of ‘aspiration’ or ‘glottal Phonetics takes care of ‘aspiration’ or ‘glottal

constriction’.constriction’.

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Dimesional InvarianceDimesional Invariance

Consistently “Glottal Width” or GW

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Dimensional TheoryDimensional Theory

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French/Spanish – quick French/Spanish – quick looklook

French/SpanishFrench/Spanish bb vs.vs. ØØ

XX vs. vs. X X || | |

GTGT Ø Ø

If consistently voiced, then must be specified for If consistently voiced, then must be specified for voicing – [Glottal Tension]voicing – [Glottal Tension]

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Dimensional TheoryDimensional Theory

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Grand Vision for Grand Vision for phonological featuresphonological features

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What does this mean for What does this mean for nasality?nasality?

[+/nasal] are under the dimension of [+/nasal] are under the dimension of ‘soft palate’.‘soft palate’.

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Grand Vision for Grand Vision for phonological featuresphonological features

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SP and its gesturesSP and its gestures

Antagonistic gestures. One Dimension –

Soft Palate (SP)

Oral segment

Nasal segment

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The Dimension SPThe Dimension SP Soft Palate.Soft Palate.

Root:Root: XX ||

Dimension:Dimension: SPSP / \/ \

Gesture:Gesture: [nasal] [oral][nasal] [oral]

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HoweverHowever Phonology (usually) looks as low as Phonology (usually) looks as low as

dimensionsdimensions, and no lower!, and no lower!

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The Dimension SPThe Dimension SP Soft Palate in the phonology.Soft Palate in the phonology.

Root:Root: XX ||

Dimension:Dimension: SPSP / \/ \

Gesture:Gesture: [nasal] [oral][nasal] [oral]

Purview of Phonology

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ImplicationsImplications A segment can be marked for the A segment can be marked for the

dimension SP in the phonology, but no dimension SP in the phonology, but no more!more!

XX ||SPSP

([nasal] or [oral] gestures are part of the ([nasal] or [oral] gestures are part of the phonetic implementation)phonetic implementation)

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The Dimension SPThe Dimension SP You can’t mark [nasal] or [oral] in the You can’t mark [nasal] or [oral] in the

phonology!phonology! Coolest prediction ever!Coolest prediction ever!

If specified for ‘phonological nasality’, segments If specified for ‘phonological nasality’, segments can can surface with (phonetic) non-nasal variants cos surface with (phonetic) non-nasal variants cos the phonetic gesture isn’t specified!the phonetic gesture isn’t specified!

Because:Because: XX →→ XX (or)(or) X X (or) (or) X X

|| || | | | |SPSP SPSP SPSP SPSP

|| | | | | [nasal][nasal] [oral] [oral] ØØ

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Partially-nasal stopsPartially-nasal stops What are they?What are they?

Segments with both a nasal and an oral Segments with both a nasal and an oral portion.portion.

RecordingRecordingWhole phraseWhole phraseWordWordkapan: sounds like [kapakapan: sounds like [kapaddn]n]

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Partially-nasal stopsPartially-nasal stops At least 2 kindsAt least 2 kinds

Nasal-basedNasal-based No different from simple nasals in the No different from simple nasals in the

phonology.phonology. Behave like nasals; spread nasality…Behave like nasals; spread nasality…

Voiced-basedVoiced-based Simple voiced stops in the phonology, Simple voiced stops in the phonology,

unmarked for phonological nasality.unmarked for phonological nasality. Nasal on the surface for phonetic reasons Nasal on the surface for phonetic reasons

(enhancement…).(enhancement…).

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Categorical PhonologyCategorical Phonology All types of Partially Nasal Stops All types of Partially Nasal Stops

(can) show surface variability.(can) show surface variability. Nasal-based - Nasal-based - [m] or [m[m] or [mbb] or [b] ] or [b] Voice-based - Voice-based - [[mmb] or [b] (or b] or [b] (or

[m] ??)[m] ??) But, they But, they NEVERNEVER trigger trigger

nasalization variably.nasalization variably.

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Logical PossibilitiesLogical Possibilities Because Nasal-based PNS show surface Because Nasal-based PNS show surface

variation, it is logically possible thatvariation, it is logically possible that If the surface alternant is [m], If the surface alternant is [m],

aham aham aham (nasalization occurs)aham (nasalization occurs) If the surface alternant is [b], If the surface alternant is [b],

aham aham ahab (no nasalization occurs)ahab (no nasalization occurs) If the surface alternant is [If the surface alternant is [bbm],m],

aham aham ahaahabbm (no nasalization)m (no nasalization)

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Therefore, expected variation for the Therefore, expected variation for the same wordsame word ahamaham aham aham

(or)(or) ahabahab(or)(or) ahaahabbmm

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Observed fact:Observed fact: There is There is NEVERNEVER any such variation. any such variation. (If they nasalize adjacent segments, (If they nasalize adjacent segments,

they always do!)they always do!) Jambi Malay (Tadmor & Yanti 2004)Jambi Malay (Tadmor & Yanti 2004)

(i)(i) ayamayam ayaaya(b)(b)m m ‘chicken’‘chicken’(ii)(ii) ayam-eayam-e ayame ayame ‘his ‘his chicken’chicken’

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In the phonologyIn the phonology In the phonology, a nasal-based PNS In the phonology, a nasal-based PNS

is a simple nasal.is a simple nasal. So, it always triggers nasalisation, if So, it always triggers nasalisation, if

the language has a nasalisation the language has a nasalisation process.process.

Surface variation is a result of the Surface variation is a result of the phonetic mapping, NOT phonology.phonetic mapping, NOT phonology.

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What about Voice-based What about Voice-based PNS?PNS?

Observed VariationObserved Variation [[mmb] or [b] (or [m] ??)b] or [b] (or [m] ??)

However, in the phonology, they are not However, in the phonology, they are not specified for nasality.specified for nasality. They NEVER spread nasality.They NEVER spread nasality.

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ConclusionConclusion Contra the claims of Classic OT Contra the claims of Classic OT

architecture (ROTB), not all the architecture (ROTB), not all the predictable facts are in the predictable facts are in the phonology!phonology!

At least some are to be captured at At least some are to be captured at the phonology-phonetics interface.the phonology-phonetics interface.