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Uniqueness in element signatures

Abstract

Representations of segments using elements or features face the challenge of whether cross-linguistic representations of the same sound should have the same representation. In line with a universal view of phonology, it is generally argued that the same phonetic output should have identical representations across systems. This paper discusses some cases where this position is challenged, particularly in cases involving language change and so-called crazy rules. It is argued that the phonological patterning of segments is what should be the crucial deciding factor in their representation, allowing different elemental combinations of the same sound from different languages to map onto identical patterns in the speech signal.

Abstract

Representations of segments using elements or features face the challenge of whether cross-linguistic representations of the same sound should have the same representation. In line with a universal view of phonology, it is generally argued that the same phonetic output should have identical representations across systems. This paper discusses some cases where this position is challenged, particularly in cases involving language change and so-called crazy rules. It is argued that the phonological patterning of segments is what should be the crucial deciding factor in their representation, allowing different elemental combinations of the same sound from different languages to map onto identical patterns in the speech signal.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Prelude, theme and riffs vii
  4. English /au/ 1
  5. The internal TR clusters of Acadian French 17
  6. Hocus bogus? 33
  7. A unifying explanation of the Great Vowel Shift, Canadian Raising and Southern Monophthonging 63
  8. Deconstructing tongue root harmony systems 73
  9. Underlying representations and Bantu segmental phonology 101
  10. Uniqueness in element signatures 117
  11. Charting the vowel space 133
  12. The relative salience of consonant nasality and true obstruent voicing 145
  13. Asymmetric variation 163
  14. The beginning of the word 189
  15. On the diachronic origin of Nivkh height restrictions 201
  16. Segmental loss and phonological representation 215
  17. The phonology of handshape distribution in Maxakalí sign 231
  18. English stress is binary and lexical 263
  19. Bogus clusters and lenition in Tuscan Italian 277
  20. The prosodic status of glides in Anaañ reduplication 297
  21. Index 321
Sonic Signatures
This chapter is in the book Sonic Signatures
https://doi.org/10.1075/lfab.14.c7

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Prelude, theme and riffs vii
  4. English /au/ 1
  5. The internal TR clusters of Acadian French 17
  6. Hocus bogus? 33
  7. A unifying explanation of the Great Vowel Shift, Canadian Raising and Southern Monophthonging 63
  8. Deconstructing tongue root harmony systems 73
  9. Underlying representations and Bantu segmental phonology 101
  10. Uniqueness in element signatures 117
  11. Charting the vowel space 133
  12. The relative salience of consonant nasality and true obstruent voicing 145
  13. Asymmetric variation 163
  14. The beginning of the word 189
  15. On the diachronic origin of Nivkh height restrictions 201
  16. Segmental loss and phonological representation 215
  17. The phonology of handshape distribution in Maxakalí sign 231
  18. English stress is binary and lexical 263
  19. Bogus clusters and lenition in Tuscan Italian 277
  20. The prosodic status of glides in Anaañ reduplication 297
  21. Index 321
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