


Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
Explore the systematic organization of sounds in languages with this comprehensive guide to phonology. Key concepts such as phonemes, allophones, minimal pairs, and phonological rules, providing clear examples and essential components for phonological analysis. Learn how to identify phonemes, avoid common pitfalls, and grasp the complexities of sound systems in various languages. This guide is perfect for students and enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of linguistic phonology.
Typology: Study notes
1 / 4
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
Phonology is the branch of linguistics that deals with the systematic organization of sounds in languages. While phonetics focuses on the physical properties of speech sounds (how they are produced, transmitted, and perceived), phonology looks at how sounds function within a particular language or languages. It studies the abstract, mental representations of sounds (phonemes) and the rules that govern how they can combine and interact.
Let’s illustrate these concepts with examples: Phonemes : o In English, the sounds /t/ and /d/ are phonemes because they can change meaning. For instance, “bat” vs. “bad” shows the change from /t/ to /d/. Allophones : o The /t/ in “top” is aspirated, while in “stop,” it is unaspirated. Both represent the same phoneme /t/ but occur in different phonetic contexts. Minimal Pairs :
o Consider the words “cat” and “cab.” The only difference is the middle vowel sound /æ/ in “cat” versus /ɑː/ in “cab.” This change alters the meaning, highlighting their status as minimal pairs. Phonological Rules : o The English plural rule can be illustrated by: "dog" → "dogs" /dɔɡz/ "cat" → "cats" /kæt s/ "kiss" → "kisses" /kɪsɪz/
When conducting a phonological analysis, certain components are essential: