scholarly journals Testing the P-Map: Lenition and Position

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Patrick Hall
Keyword(s):  
English Speakers ◽  
Final Position ◽  
Perceptual Similarity ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
Similar Word ◽  
Linguistic Patterns ◽  
Phonological Contrasts ◽  
Phonological Typology ◽  
Similarity Judgements

This study tests the P-Map’s (Steriade, 2001) hypothesis that attested phonological patterns vary depending on phonological context due to differences in the perceptual similarity of two phonological contrasts in different contexts, and that the knowledge of these relative perceptibilities are used to explain cross-linguistic patterns of phonological typology. Specifically, the phenomena in focus are spirantization and devoicing. The study investigates if preference for spirantization of voiced stops in intervocalic position and devoicing of voiced stops in word-final position across languages is correlated with perceptual similarity. Using perceptual similarity tests with native Michigan English speakers on pairs of contrasts in nonsense words, the results show that continuancy contrasts are significantly more similar in intervocalic position than in word-final position, explaining the preference for spirantization intervocalically while voicing contrasts are significantly more similar word-finally, explaining the preference for devoicing word-finally. The results thus support the P-Map’s claim and support a phonetics-based approach to phonology. In addition, since neither phenomenon is a process that happens in Michigan English, the lack of bias in these similarity judgements lends weight to the idea that these results reflect the universal perception of phonological processes.

The cognitive saliency of word associations of verbs of speech in English as a Lingua Franca interactions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-443
Author(s):  
Yang Pang
Keyword(s):  
Common Ground ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Word Associations ◽  
Similar Word ◽  
Speech Communities

AbstractBuilding on the theoretical insights into the socio-cognitive approach to the study of interactions in which English is used as a lingua franca (ELF)), this paper reports on the idiosyncratic phenomenon that ELF speakers do not adhere to the norms of native speakers, but instead create their own particular word associations during the course of the interaction. Taking the verbs of speech talk, say, speak, and tell as examples, this study compares word associations from three corpora of native and non-native speakers. The findings of this study reveal that similar word associative patterns are produced and shared by ELF speech communities from different sociocultural backgrounds, and these differ substantially from those used by native English speakers. Idiom-like constructions such as say like, how to say, and speakin are developed and utilized by Asian and European ELF speakers. Based on these findings, this paper concludes that ELF speakers use the prefabricated expressions in the target language system only as references, and try to develop their own word associative patterns in ELF interactions. Moreover, the analysis of the non-literalness/metaphorical word associations of the verbs of speech in the Asian ELF corpus suggests that ELF speakers dynamically co-construct their shared common ground to derive non-literal/metaphorical meaning in actual situational context.

Second language learning of phonological alternations with and without orthographic input: Evidence from the acquisition of a German-like voicing alternation

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-545
Author(s):  
Shannon L. Barrios ◽  
Rachel Hayes-Harb
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
New Words ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Naming Test

AbstractWhile a growing body of research investigates the influence of orthographic input on the acquisition of second language (L2) segmental contrasts, few studies have examined its influence on the acquisition of L2 phonological processes. Hayes-Harb, Brown, and Smith (2018) showed that exposure to words’ written forms caused native English speakers to misremember the voicing of final obstruents in German-like words exemplifying voicing neutralization. However, they did not examine participants’ acquisition of the final devoicing process. To address this gap, we conducted two experiments wherein native English speakers (assigned to Orthography or No Orthography groups) learned German-like words in suffixed and unsuffixed forms, and later completed a picture naming test. Experiment 1 investigated learners’ knowledge of the surface voicing of obstruents in both final and nonfinal position, and revealed that while all participants produced underlyingly voiced obstruents as voiceless more often in final than nonfinal position, the difference was only significant for No Orthography participants. Experiment 2 investigated participants’ ability to apply the devoicing process to new words, and provided no evidence of generalization. Together these findings shed light on the acquisition of final devoicing by naïve adult learners, as well as the influence of orthographic input in the acquisition of a phonological alternation.

scholarly journals Revisiting the Suffixing Preference: Native-Language Affixation Patterns Influence Perception of Sequences

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 1107-1116
Author(s):  
Alexander Martin ◽  
Jennifer Culbertson
Keyword(s):  
Human Perception ◽  
Perceptual Bias ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Perceptual Similarity ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
Bantu Language ◽  
Rural Kenya ◽  
Similarity Judgments ◽  
Complex Words

Similarities among the world’s languages may be driven by universal features of human cognition or perception. For example, in many languages, complex words are formed by adding suffixes to the ends of simpler words, but adding prefixes is much less common: Why might this be? Previous research suggests this is due to a domain-general perceptual bias: Sequences differing at their ends are perceived as more similar to each other than sequences differing at their beginnings. However, as is typical in psycholinguistic research, the evidence comes exclusively from one population—English speakers—who have extensive experience with suffixing. Here, we provided a much stronger test of this claim by investigating perceptual-similarity judgments in speakers of Kîîtharaka, a heavily prefixing Bantu language spoken in rural Kenya. We found that Kîîtharaka speakers ( N = 72) showed the opposite judgments to English speakers ( N = 51), which calls into question whether a universal bias in human perception can explain the suffixing preference in the world’s languages.

Post-nasal devoicing and the blurring process

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
GAŠPER BEGUŠ
Keyword(s):  
Sound Change ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
Central Topic ◽  
Sound Changes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Phonological Typology ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Individual Accounts

This paper addresses one of the most contested issues in phonology: unnatural alternations. First, non-natural phonological processes are subdivided into unmotivated and unnatural. The central topic of the paper is an unnatural process: post-nasal devoicing (PND). I collect thirteen cases of PND and argue that in all reported cases, PND does not derive from a single unnatural sound change (as claimed in some individual accounts of the data), but rather from a combination of three sound changes, each of which is phonetically motivated. I present new evidence showing that the three stages are directly historically attested in the pre-history of Yaghnobi. Based on several discussed cases, I propose a new diachronic model for explaining unnatural phenomena called the Blurring Process and point to its advantages over competing approaches (hypercorrection, perceptual enhancement, and phonetic motivation). The Blurring Process establishes general diachronic conditions for unnatural synchronic processes and can be employed to explain unnatural processes beyond PND. Additionally, I provide a proof establishing the minimal sound changes required for an unmotivated/unnatural alternation to arise. The Blurring Process and Minimal Sound Change Requirement have implications for models of typology within the Channel Bias approach. This paper thus presents a first step toward the ultimate goal of quantifying the influences of Channel Bias on phonological typology.

scholarly journals PERILAKU FONOLOGI KONSONAN DI AKHIR KATA DIALEK PETANI SIK[THE PHONOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF WORD-FINAL CONSONANTS IN THE PETANI SIK DIALECT]

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 316
Author(s):  
Nur Syazwani Abdul Salam ◽  
Sharifah Raihan Syed Jaafar
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Final Position ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
The North ◽  
Phonological Knowledge ◽  
Unique Identity ◽  
Study Questionnaire ◽  
Identity Symbol

Kajian ini mendeskripsikan perilaku fonologi konsonan yang berada di akhir kata dalam dialek Petani Sik yang dituturkan di daerah Sik, Kedah, Malaysia. Terdapat beberapa fenomena fonologi yang berlaku di akhir kata dalam dialek Petani Sik, Kedah lantaran sekatan ke atas kehadiran sesetengah konsonan di posisi dalam dialek ini. Data kajian telah diperoleh melalui kajian rintis, soal selidik serta kajian lapangan yang melibatkan pemerhatian dan rakaman. Pengumpulan data dilakukan di Kampung Telaga Batu, Sik, Kedah dengan memilih 30 penutur natif yang berumur antara 45 hingga 75 tahun. Hasil analisis menunjukkan konsonan /r/, /l/, /s/, /m/ dan /h/ tidak dibenarkan hadir di akhir kata dalam dialek Petani Sik. Kehadiran konsonan-konsonan ini telah ditangani dengan proses fonologi seperti peleburan, penggantian, penyisipan dan pengguguran. Penggantian konsonan /s/ kepada [ç] yang didahului oleh vokal tinggi dan /s/ kepada [h] yang didahului oleh vokal /a/ serta diikuti oleh penyisipan [j] sebelum konsonan tersebut merupakan output dialek Petani Sik yang paling menarik khusunya bunyi [ç]. Kehadirannya dalam dialek-dialek Melayu sangat terhad hanya kepada dialek Kedah Utara dan tidak wujud dalam bahasa Melayu standard. Kemunculannya yang terbatas ini menjadi lambang identiti unik dalam dialek Kedah khususnya dialek Petani Sik. Penelitian proses fonologi di akhir kata dalam dialek Petani Sik memberi implikasi sebagai nilai tambah kepada kajian terdahulu selain sebagai perintis ke arah penyelidikan ilmiah yang memelihara dan mendokumentasikan sistem nahu sebuah dialek Melayu yang semakin kurang penuturnya.Kata kunci: Bahasa Melayu, dialek Kedah, dialek Petani Sik, fonologi, konsonan akhir kata. ABSTRACTThis study describes the phonological behaviour of word-final consonants in the Petani Sik dialect spoken in the Sik region of Kedah, Malaysia. There are a number of phonological phenomena which occur at word-final position in the Petani Sik dialect due to restriction on the presence of consonants at this position of word. Data for this study were obtained through pilot study, questionnaire and fieldwork which included observation and recording. Data gathering at Kampung Telaga Batu, Sik, Kedah was carried out involving 30 native speakers aged between 45 and 75 years. The findings show that consonants /r/, /l/, /s/, /m/ and /h/ are not allowed to occur at word-final position in the Petani Sik dialect. The occurrence of these consonants has been resolved by the phonological processes namely coalescence, substitution, epenthesis and deletion. The substitution consonant from /s/ to [ç] which is preceded by a high vowel and from /s/ to [h] before /a/ which is then followed by the epenthesis [j] before the consonant are the most interesting outputs yielded from the dialect particularly the [ç]sound. Its presence in Malay dialects is limited only for the North Kedah dialect. It also does not exist in the standard Malay. The limited presence of this sound is interesting as it represents a unique identity symbol for Kedah dialect particularly Petani Sik dialect. This study contributes to the phonological knowledge in the dialect and it documents the grammar of a Malay dialect which now has less speakers.Keywords: Kedah dialect, Malay language, Petani Sik dialect, phonology, word-final position.Cite as: Salam, N. S. & Syed Jaafar, S. R. (2019). Perilaku fonologi konsonan di akhir kata dialek petani Sik. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 4(1), 316-343. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol4iss1pp316-343

scholarly journals To Epenthesize or Not? Adaptations of English Coda [m] in Standard Mandarin Loanwords

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ho-Hsin Huang ◽  
Yen-Hwei Lin
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Results ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Perceptual Similarity ◽  
Perceptual Cues ◽  
Loanword Adaptation ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis ◽  
Phonological Features ◽  
Experimental Strategies ◽  
Adaptation Data

This study investigates how English coda [m] is adapted into Standard Mandarin (SM) loanwords both in the existing corpora and in perceptual similarity adaptation data from monolingual SM and bilingual SM-English speakers. The nasal [m] in coda position is prohibited in SM. Deletion, nasal place change ([m]-->[n]/[ŋ]) and vowel epenthesis are the possible repair strategies. The generalizations identified in the corpora indicate that deletion never occurs (cf. Preservation Principle from Paradis 1996, Paradis & Lacharité 1997). Vowel epenthesis appears in SM when English coda [m] is in word-medial and word final positions. Nasal place change appears when English coda [m] is followed by a labial obstruent.  Variable adaptations happen when English coda [m] is followed by an obstruent. The experimental results show that (i) the bilingual experimental strategies for nonce word adaptations are similar to the patterns observed in the SM loanwords corpora and (ii) monolinguals’ adaptation patterns are more variable due to greater dependence on perceptual cues. The fact that monolinguals and bilinguals differ in the extent to which they employ perceptual cues and phonological features/constraints for loanword adaptations challenges a pure perception-based account of loanword adaptation. 

Analytic bias and phonological typology

Phonology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott Moreton
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Errors ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
Phonological Typology ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Consonant Voicing ◽  
Vowel Height

Two factors have been proposed as the main determinants of phonological typology: channel bias, phonetically systematic errors in transmission, and analytic bias, cognitive predispositions making learners more receptive to some patterns than others. Much of typology can be explained equally well by either factor, making them hard to distinguish empirically. This study presents evidence that analytic bias is strong enough to create typological asymmetries in a case where channel bias is controlled. I show that (i) phonological dependencies between the height of two vowels are typologically more common than dependencies between vowel height and consonant voicing, (ii) the phonetic precursors of the height-height and height-voice patterns are equally robust and (iii) in two experiments, English speakers learned a height-height pattern and a voice-voice pattern better than a height-voice pattern. I conclude that both factors contribute to typology, and discuss hypotheses about their interaction.

EFL and/vs. ESL?

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Th. Gries ◽  
Sandra C. Deshors
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Mixed Effects Modeling ◽  
Dative Alternation ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Linguistic Patterns ◽  
The Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Theoretical Question ◽  
Learner Language

The study of learner language and that of indigenized varieties are growing areas of English-language corpus-linguistic research, which are shaped by two current trends: First, the recognition that more rigorous methodological approaches are urgently needed (with few exceptions, existing work is based on over-/under-use frequency counts that fail to unveil complex non-native linguistic patterns); second, the collective effort to bridge an existing “paradigm gap” (Sridhar & Sridhar 1986) between EFL and ESL research. This paper contributes to these developments by offering a multifactorial analysis of seventeen lexical verbs in the dative alternation in speech and writing of German/French learners and Hong Kong/India/Singapore English speakers. We exemplify the advantages of hierarchical mixed-effects modeling, which allows us to control for speaker and verb-specific effects, but also for the hierarchical structure of the corpus data. Second, we address the theoretical question of whether EFL and ESL represent discrete English varieties or a continuum.

scholarly journals The Role of Perception in the Typology of Geminate Consonants: Effects of Manner of Articulation, Segmental Environment, Position, and Stress

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-70
Author(s):  
Olga Dmitrieva
Keyword(s):  
Final Position ◽  
Linguistic Patterns ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Perceptual Asymmetries ◽  
Perceptual Acuity ◽  
Manner Of Articulation ◽  
Post Stress

The present study seeks to answer the question of whether consonant duration is perceived differently across consonants of different manners of articulation and in different contextual environments and whether such differences may be related to the typology of geminates. The results of the cross-linguistic identification experiment suggest higher perceptual acuity in labeling short and long consonants in sonorants than in obstruents. Duration categories were also more consistently and clearly labeled in the intervocalic than in the preconsonantal environment, in the word-initial than in the word-final position, and after stressed vowels than between unstressed vowels. These perceptual asymmetries are in line with some typological tendencies, such as the cross-linguistic preference for intervocalic and post-stress geminates, but contradict other proposed cross-linguistic patterns, such as the preference for obstruent geminates and the abundance of word-final geminates.

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