LinguisticsLesson 2 of 2 in the course Phonology

Distinctive Features in Phonology: Values, Sound Classes, and Vowels

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces distinctive features as basic units used to describe and distinguish speech sounds. It explains how features represent phonological contrasts and how different theories assign values to them.

A distinctive feature is a basic unit of phonological structure that helps distinguish one sound from another within a language. Rather than treating every sound as an indivisible item, phonologists describe sounds as combinations of properties.

All flashcards

Distinctive feature
A phonological property used to describe sounds and distinguish one sound from another within a language.
Unmarked feature
A feature left unspecified for a segment in a particular analysis; it is not necessarily equivalent to a negative value.
Unary (privative) feature
A feature that marks segments possessing a property without assigning a corresponding negative value to those lacking it.
[±voice]
A binary feature indicating whether the vocal folds vibrate during a segment.
[±tense]
A feature used to characterize vowels that is phonological rather than purely phonetic.

Quiz questions

  1. What distinguishes sonorants from obstruents in the feature description given?Answer: Sonorants are produced without the pressure imbalance that creates turbulent airflow.
  2. What does [+spread glottis] describe?Answer: Vocal folds spread enough for friction associated with aspiration to occur.
  3. Which sounds are [+delayed release] in the manner-feature description?Answer: Affricates
  4. Which articulators define the broad place category CORONAL?Answer: The tongue tip and/or blade
  5. Which three headings organize features in the Jakobsonian system described?Answer: Sonority, protensity, and tonality

Based on the Wikipedia article Distinctive feature, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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