Q1 : How did Trubetzkoy define markedness?

Was it a phonological or phonetic

property?

Nikolai Trubetzkoy, a key figure in the Prague School of Linguistics, introduced the
concept of markedness as a fundamental principle in understanding phonological
contrasts.

His approach to markedness was primarily phonological rather than phonetic, focusing
on how sounds function within the phonological system of a language.

Trubetzkoy's concept of markedness revolves around the idea that phonemic contrasts
can be categorized into marked and unmarked members.

He defined It as following :

1. Marked vs. Unmarked Members:

o In any phonological opposition, one member is considered "marked"
while the other is "unmarked."
o The marked member is typically more complex or less natural than the
unmarked member.
o The unmarked member serves as the default or more basic form.
2. Neutralization:
o Neutralization occurs when distinctions between phonemes are lost in
certain phonological contexts, resulting in the unmarked form.
o For example, in German, the distinction between voiced and voiceless
obstruents is neutralized at the end of a word, leading to the unmarked
voiceless form: /t/ in "Rad" [ʁat] ('wheel') instead of /d/.

Trubetzkoy’s concept of markedness is fundamentally phonological, as it deals with the

functional and structural aspects of phonemes within a language system:

1. Phonological Opposition:
o Markedness is defined by the roles phonemes play in contrasting with
each other within a particular language.
o For example, in English, the opposition between /p/ and /b/ is
phonological. /p/ is unmarked (default) and /b/ is marked (requiring
voicing).
2. Phonological Rules and Patterns:
o Phonological rules often reflect markedness distinctions. For example, in
assimilation processes, the unmarked form typically prevails.
o In many languages, voiceless stops (unmarked) are more common than
voiced stops (marked).
Phonetic Properties and Their Role

While Trubetzkoy’s approach was predominantly phonological, phonetic properties

were not entirely irrelevant:

1. Phonetic Realizations:
o The markedness of phonemes can be influenced by their phonetic
complexity.

For instance, voiced sounds are phonetically more complex due to the
requirement of vocal cord vibration.

o However, Trubetzkoy was more concerned with the phonological

function rather than the phonetic articulation.

2. Phonetic Naturalness:
o Phonetic naturalness can often explain why certain phonemes are
unmarked.

For example, voiceless stops are easier to produce and perceive, making
them unmarked across languages.

Conclusion

Trubetzkoy's definition of markedness is primarily a phonological concept focusing on

the structural and functional roles of phonemes within a language system. While
phonetic properties can influence markedness, Trubetzkoy’s emphasis was on how
these features operate in phonological oppositions and patterns. By distinguishing
between marked and unmarked phonemes, Trubetzkoy provided a framework for
understanding the asymmetrical nature of phonological systems across languages.

Examples Illustrating Markedness

o Voicing in Consonants:
o English: Voiceless stops like /p/, /t/, and /k/ are unmarked compared to
their voiced counterparts /b/, /d/, and /ɡ/.
 Example: Word-final devoicing in German, where /d/ becomes [t]:
"Bund" [bʊnt] ('federation').
o Vowel Height:
o English: Short vowels are unmarked compared to their long counterparts.
 o Example: English prefers short vowels in unstressed syllables.
 "admit": The second syllable has a short vowel /ɪ/ in the
unstressed position.
 "submit": The second syllable has a short vowel /ɪ/ in the
unstressed position.

In these examples, short vowels are preferred in unstressed syllables, demonstrating the
tendency for English to use unmarked (short) vowels in specific phonological contexts.

oTurkish: High vowels /i/, /ɯ/, /u/, /y/ are unmarked compared to their
low counterparts /e/, /a/, /o/, /œ/.
 Example: Vowel harmony in Turkish prefers high vowels in suffixes
unless a root vowel is low.
o Nasality in Vowels:
o French: Oral vowels are unmarked compared to nasal vowels.
 Example: The neutralization of vowel nasality in rapid or casual
speech often results in the use of the unmarked oral vowel.