Distinctive vs. redundant

features

LING 451/551

Spring 2011

Prof. Hargus

A possible feature matrix for /t/

[-syllabic]

[+consonantal]

[-sonorant]

[-continuant]

[-delayed release]

[+coronal]

[+anterior]

[-labial]

[-dorsal]

[-voiced]

[-constricted glottis]

[-spread glottis]

Do we really

need all these

features???

How many features?

• For y number of contrasts, the minimum number of features needed is n: 2n y – For two contrasting sounds (y = 2):

• 2n 2, n = 1

– For three contrasts (y = 3): • 2n 3, n = 2

– For four contrasts (y = 4): • 2n 4, n = 2

• Distinctive feature – feature which characterizes a phonemic contrast

• Must first know (or deduce) inventory of contrastive segments

Witsuwit’en stop phonation contrasts

• t th t’ c ch c’ kw kwh kw’ q qh q’

• A distinctive feature matrix for Witsuwit’en

phonation contrasts

C Ch C’

[spread glottis] - + -

[constricted glottis] - - +

Two four-vowel inventories

• Navajo

i

e o

ɑ • Yokuts

i u

o

ɑ

Some vowel features in Hayes

• [+front]: [i y e] etc.

• [+back]: [ɯ u o ɑ] etc.

• [+high]: [i y u ɯ] etc. • [+low]: [æ ɑ ɒ] etc.

• [+round]: [y u o] etc.

Distinctive features for Yokuts

vowels i u

o

ɑ

Minimum number for 4 phonemes is 2

– (y = 4, 2n 4, n = 2)

[+front] [+back]

[+high]

[+round]

[+low]

Yokuts vowel inventory

[round]

- +

[high] + i u

- ɑ o

Distinctive features:

Yokuts distinctive feature matrix

i u ɑ o

[high] + + - -

[round] - + - +

Inadequate alternative Yokuts

distinctive feature matrix i u ɑ o

[high] + + - -

[back] - + + +

Yokuts redundant vowel features

• Redundant feature – non-distinctive (does not distinguish phonemes)

– predictable from distinctive features

• One way to predict [low] V

[-high] [+low]

[-round]

otherwise,

V [-low]

• Redundant [back], [front] V

[+high] [-back]

[-round] [+front]

otherwise,

V [+back, -front]

• Do [high], [round] correctly predict natural

classes of vowels in Yokuts?

Navajo vowels

• Minimum number features for 4-vowel inventory is 2

i

e o

ɑ

[+front] [+back]

[+high]

[+round]

[+low]

Navajo distinctive features

• Multiple possible solutions

• Combinations of 5 features taken 3 at a time: Some distinguish all vowels, some do not: 1. [high, low, back]

2. [high, low, front]

3. [high, low, round]

4. *[high, back, front]

5. [high, back, round]

6. [high, front, round]

7. *[low, back, front]

8. *[low, back, round]

9. *[low, front, round]

10.*[back, front, round]

1. [high], [low], [back]

i e ɑ o

[high] + - - -

[low] - - + -

[back] - - + +

Redundant [round]: V

[-low] [+round]; otherwise, [-round]

[+back]

Redundant [front]: V

[-back] [+front]; otherwise [-front]

2. [high], [low], [front]

i e ɑ o

[high] + - - -

[low] - - + -

[front] + + - -

Redundant [round], [back]

3. [high], [round], [low]

i e ɑ o

[high] + - - -

[round] - - - +

[low] - - + -

Redundant [back], [front]

4. *[high], [back], [front]

i e ɑ o

[high] + - - -

[back] - - + +

[front] - - - -

/ɑ/, /o/ not distinct

5. [high], [back], [round]

i e ɑ o

[high] + - - -

[round] - - - +

[back] - - + +

Redundant [low], [front]

6. [high, round, front] i e ɑ o

[high] + - - -

[round] - - - +

[front] + + - -

Redundant [low], [back]

7. *[low, back, front] i e ɑ o

[low] - - + -

[back] - - + +

[front] + + - -

/i/, /e/ not distinct

*8. [round], [low], [back]

i e ɑ o

[round] - - - +

[low] - - + -

[back] - - + +

/i/, /e/ not distinct

*9. [round], [low], [front]

i e ɑ o

[round] - - - +

[low] - - + -

[front] + + - -

/i/, /e/ not distinct

*10. [round], [back], [front]

i e ɑ o

[round] - - - +

[back] - - + +

[front] + + - -

/i/, /e/ not distinct

Summary

• Distinctive features

– minimum number < # contrasts

– exact number < phonetic nature of contrasts

• Redundant features

– predictable from distinctive feature(s)

• Are features always enlightening?

– read Hayes 4.9