Natural and unnatural patterns of sound change?
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Maria-Josep Solé
Abstract
Sound changes that occur in different languages have been considered more natural than those that do not. Because natural sound changes have been shown to have a phonetic basis, less common outcomes in the exact same context have been considered phonetically anomalous. This paper argues that sound changes that appear to be very different from one another, even opposite, may arise from small variations in the magnitude or coordination of consecutive segments, and from adjustments operating along different dimensions directed to achieve the same functional goal. This argument is supported by experimental evidence on (i) fricative weakening and epenthetic stops in fricative-nasal sequences, (ii) postnasal voicing and devoicing, and (iii) adjustments of different articulatory parameters (e.g., velic leakage, larynx lowering, tongue body lowering) to facilitate sustaining voicing during a stop closure. The data suggest that small differences in the way languages implement their target sounds may give rise to qualitatively different patterns, but the same phonetic principles may be used to explain both common and less common patterns of change.
Abstract
Sound changes that occur in different languages have been considered more natural than those that do not. Because natural sound changes have been shown to have a phonetic basis, less common outcomes in the exact same context have been considered phonetically anomalous. This paper argues that sound changes that appear to be very different from one another, even opposite, may arise from small variations in the magnitude or coordination of consecutive segments, and from adjustments operating along different dimensions directed to achieve the same functional goal. This argument is supported by experimental evidence on (i) fricative weakening and epenthetic stops in fricative-nasal sequences, (ii) postnasal voicing and devoicing, and (iii) adjustments of different articulatory parameters (e.g., velic leakage, larynx lowering, tongue body lowering) to facilitate sustaining voicing during a stop closure. The data suggest that small differences in the way languages implement their target sounds may give rise to qualitatively different patterns, but the same phonetic principles may be used to explain both common and less common patterns of change.
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
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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
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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
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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
