ESLB2083 ENGLISH PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY

TOPIC 7 PROBLEMS IN PHONEMIC ANALYSIS

Areas of difficulty

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Problems of analysis

• Church /t∫3: t∫/ judge /dƷΛdƷ/

Affricates
t∫ dƷ
(T-d) + (∫-Ʒ)
Plosive +fricative

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One-phoneme-analysis

We consider each pair of t∫ dƷ

As (a single consonant phoneme)

It increases number of phonemes

T - ∫ - t∫ - d - Ʒ - dƷ
1 2 3 4 5 6

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Two- phoneme- analysis

We consider each pair of t∫ dƷ

composed of two phonemes each

t + ∫ d + Ʒ

It keeps number of phonemes smaller

As they already exist in language
5
Which analysis is more economic?

two- phoneme –analysis

6
Which analysis is chosen by phonologists?

one –phoneme-
analysis

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Why? One-phoneme-analysis

• there are four arguments:

• 1. phonetic or (allophonic)
• 2. phonetic distribution
• 3. Consonant clusters
• 4. Native speakers of English

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1. Phonetic or allophonic

between
There is no phonetic difference

t - ∫ or d - Ʒ in
t∫ dƷ
t - ∫ or d - Ʒ
in other contexts eg:
/∫ / in
Hutch is the same in hush or welsh
/hΛt∫/ /hΛ∫/ /wel∫/
Watch apes is the same as what shapes
/wDt∫ eips/ /wDt ∫eips/

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2. Phonetic distribution

/t∫/ - /dƷ/ have phonetic distribution

(they occur
initially – medially – finally)
/t∫3:r t∫/ /wDt∫iη / /kæt∫/

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3. Consonant clusters

/t∫/ - /dƷ/ form consonant clusters

(combine freely with consonants)

Wathed wedged buldge

/wDt∫t/ /wedƷd/ /bΛldƷ/

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Native speakers’ view

• Native speakers feel that

/t∫/ - /dƷ/
are one sounds each

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Say √ or ×

 In the problem of analysis it is hard to assign sounds to phonemes

√
 In the two-phoneme analysis , /t∫/ is treated as
A combination of two phonemes

√
 The one –phoneme analysis is more economic

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Say √ or ×

 In the allophonic argument it said that the quality of t - ∫ in /t∫/ is different from t - ∫ in other contexts

×
 The phonetic distribution of /dƷ / supports the two-phoneme analysis

×
 /t∫/ - /dƷ/ combine freely to form consonant clusters

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