Phonological processes

Question 1

Are phonemes language specific?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

Give an example of how phonemes are language specific

Answer 2

English & Thai aspirated p
English - peak [p^hik], speak [spik] = no minimal pair, because if pronounced with other /p/ allophone it wouldn’t change the meaning i.e. [pik] [sp^hik]
Thai - to split [p^hàa], forest [pàa] = minimal pair, /p/ and /p^h/ are phonemes in Thai, because they change word meanings.

Question 3

Can sounds be affected by their neighbours?

Answer 3

yes

Question 4

Give an example of how sounds are affected by their neighbours

Answer 4

E.g. English - bee [bi] vs. bean [bĩn]

Nasalised /i/ due to regressive assimilation from nasal consonant.

Question 5

By what processes can sounds be affected by their neighbours?

Answer 5

Regressive assimilation.

Progressive assimilation.

Question 6

Define assimilation

Answer 6

When a sound takes on a quality of its neighbour.

Question 7

Define regressive assimilation

Answer 7

When a sound is affected by an immediately following sound.

Question 8

Define progressive assimilation

Answer 8

When a sound is affected by an immediately preceding sound.

Question 9

Define regressive voicing assimilation

Answer 9

When a stop/fricative agrees in voicing with an immediately following stop/fricative

Question 10

Give an example of regressive voicing assimilation (voiceless + voiced)

Answer 10

voiceless + voiced -> voiced + voiced

e.g. avec Jean = [kʒ] -> [gʒ]

Question 11

Give an example of regressive voicing assimilation (voiced + voiceless)

Answer 11

voiced + voiceless -> voiceless + voiceless

e.g. obtenir = [bt] -> [pt]

Question 12

Give an example of regressive voicing assimilation (voiceless + voiceless)

Answer 12

voiceless + voiceless -> no change

e.g. avec Paul = [kp]

Question 13

Give an example of regressive voicing assimilation (voiced + voiced)

Answer 13

voiced + voiced -> no change

e.g. abdominaux = [bd]

Question 14

Define progressive voicing assimilation

Answer 14

When a nasal, /l/ or semi-vowel agrees in voicing with an immediately preceding consonant.
(semi-vowels = [j], [ɥ], [w])

Question 15

Give an example of progressive voicing assimilation (voiceless preceding consonant)

Answer 15

voiceless preceding consonant -> nasal, /l/, semi-vowel is devoiced.
e.g. pneu = [pn] -> [pn̥]
plat = [pl] -> [pl̥]
quoi = [kw] -> [kw̥]
puis = [pɥ] -> [pɥ̥]

Question 16

Give an example of progressive voicing assimilation (voiced preceding consonant)

Answer 16

voiced preceding consonant -> nothing changes, because nasal, /l/ and semi-vowels are already voiced.
e.g. admis [dm]
bière [bj]
blague [bl]
buée [bɥ]

Question 17

Is schwa always pronounced as a full vowel?

Answer 17

“either it’s pronounced as a full vowel, or under certain precise circumstances it disappears entirely” (Battye et al, 2000: 85)

Question 18

When is schwa usually omitted?

Answer 18

Group-final

Group-medial

Question 19

Give an example of group-final omission of schwa

Answer 19

la porte [lapɔʁt]

Question 20

When might group-final schwa be retained?

Answer 20

Group-final le, ce or que if they are stressed

e.g. dis-le! [dilə]

Question 21

Give an example of group-medial omission of schwa

Answer 21

maintenant [mɛ̃tnɑ̃]

Question 22

When must group-medial schwa be retained?

Answer 22

If it is preceded by two consonants

Question 23

Give an example of when group-medial schwa is retained

Answer 23

mercredi [mɛʁkʁədi]

Question 24

When is schwa usually retained?

Answer 24

Group-initial

Question 25

When might group-initial schwa be omitted?

Answer 25

In informal speech

Question 26

Give an example of when group-initial schwa is retained

Answer 26

le monde [ləmɔ̃d]