The listener as a source of sound change
-
John J. Ohala✝
Abstract
This paper is an update with some revisions on the paper “The listener as a source of sound change” published in 1981 as well as related papers published subsequently. First, arguments will be presented to reinforce the claim that sound change is free of teleology, i.e., purposeful change – neither on the part of the speaker nor the listener. Related to this is that the product of sound change does not yield a better or optimal means of vocal communication. Second, I will revisit and revise my claims about the features eligible for dissimilation vs. those not eligible. I will revisit and re-emphasize my claims that sound change can be regarded as ‘nature’s speech perception experiment’. Finally, I will update my claim that the mechanisms of sound change can be studied empirically, i.e., in the laboratory – as foreseen by von Raumer, Brücke, Rosapelly, Rousselot, and others more than a century ago.
Abstract
This paper is an update with some revisions on the paper “The listener as a source of sound change” published in 1981 as well as related papers published subsequently. First, arguments will be presented to reinforce the claim that sound change is free of teleology, i.e., purposeful change – neither on the part of the speaker nor the listener. Related to this is that the product of sound change does not yield a better or optimal means of vocal communication. Second, I will revisit and revise my claims about the features eligible for dissimilation vs. those not eligible. I will revisit and re-emphasize my claims that sound change can be regarded as ‘nature’s speech perception experiment’. Finally, I will update my claim that the mechanisms of sound change can be studied empirically, i.e., in the laboratory – as foreseen by von Raumer, Brücke, Rosapelly, Rousselot, and others more than a century ago.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors and discussion participants ix
- Editors’ introduction 1
-
Part I. Perception
- The listener as a source of sound change 21
- Perception grammars and sound change 37
- A phonetic interpretation of the sound changes affecting dark /l/ in Romance 57
- The production and perception of sub-phonemic vowel contrasts and the role of the listener in sound change 77
-
Part II. Production
- The coarticulatory basis of diachronic high back vowel fronting 103
- Natural and unnatural patterns of sound change? 123
- The gaits of speech 147
-
Part III. Social factors, structural factors and the typology of change
- Prosodic skewing of input and the initiation of cross-generational sound change 167
- Social and personality variables in compensation for altered auditory feedback 185
- Patterns of lexical diffusion and articulatory motivation for sound change 211
- Foundational concepts in the scientific study of sound change 235
- Index of subjects and terms 247
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors and discussion participants ix
- Editors’ introduction 1
-
Part I. Perception
- The listener as a source of sound change 21
- Perception grammars and sound change 37
- A phonetic interpretation of the sound changes affecting dark /l/ in Romance 57
- The production and perception of sub-phonemic vowel contrasts and the role of the listener in sound change 77
-
Part II. Production
- The coarticulatory basis of diachronic high back vowel fronting 103
- Natural and unnatural patterns of sound change? 123
- The gaits of speech 147
-
Part III. Social factors, structural factors and the typology of change
- Prosodic skewing of input and the initiation of cross-generational sound change 167
- Social and personality variables in compensation for altered auditory feedback 185
- Patterns of lexical diffusion and articulatory motivation for sound change 211
- Foundational concepts in the scientific study of sound change 235
- Index of subjects and terms 247
