Prof.

ElAmrani Introduction to Linguistics S4 /2020

FORMAL NOTATION

Remember that a phonological rule contains 3 types of information:

1- The segment affected appears to the left of the arrow.
2- The change occurs on the right.
3- The environment is found after the slash.

Example:

A voiced consonant (the segment affected) becomes voiceless (the change) in word -
final position (the environment)

C [- voiced] / ———— #
[+voiced]

The null symbol Ø to the left of the arrow is used for rules of insertion.

Consider the following rule:

Ø. / i/ / # C———— C
The above rule states that /i/ is inserted between 2 consonants at the beginning of a word.

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Whereas the null symbol Ø to the right of the arrow indicates “deletion “:

C Ø / ————#
The above rule deletes word -final consonants.

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Prof. ElAmrani Introduction to Linguistics S4 /2020

Exercise 3
Restate the following rules in formal notation:
1- The glide /j/ is inserted between a high front vowel and any following vowel.
2- A voiced consonant becomes nasal after a nasal stop.
3- Consonants are devoiced word-finally or when they precede voiceless consonants.
4- voiceless fricatives become the corresponding voiced stops intervocalically between
2 vowels.
5- Vowels are rounded before a stressed round vowel.
6- A stressed vowel is inserted to break a cluster of three consonants.
7-Voiceless stops are aspirated word initially.
8- /i / is deleted before the glide /j/.

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