Linguistics 312/712
Phonology I
Suggested Answers toTest 2
SP98
A. Syllables
1. Name the parts of the syllable, indicating which is obligatory (8%). (Onset) Rhyme. Rhyme is
divided into Nucleus and (Coda)
2. Contrast the syllable structure of English with that of one other language, telling what can occur in the
onset in each, what can occur in the nucleus, and what can occur in the coda (8%). Hawaiian requires
a single C onset and prohibits codas. English allows from 0±3 C in the onset and 0±4 C
in the coda.
3. Give an example of why we need to be able to refer both to syllables and to words in describing
phonological processes (8%). German devoices syllable±final obstruents (& therefore word±
final); Russian devoices word±final obstruents but word±internal syllable±final
obstruents assimilate to the voicing of the next sound, as in Fledbush µFlatbush (NY).
B. Distinctive Features
4. Name the three major class features identified by Spencer. What classes of sounds do these differentiate?
Give the values for each feature in each sound class (9%).
Obstruents
Vowels/Glides
Nasals
Liquids
Sonorant
±
+
+
+
Consonant
+
±
+
+
Approximant
±
+
±
+
5. Why is it necessary to use tongue body features [high, low, back], along with the Place feature, to
characterize consonants? Why isn¶t Place enough? (6%) How else to differentiate [k] from [q] or []
from []?
6. What reason do phonologists give for having only 2 values for backness, even though languages are known
to have central vowels? (6%) Adding [Front] would permit too many vowels; central vowels
act like back vowels, and usually differ from them in rounding.
7. How do we show that affricates start with a stop and end with a fricative, but still function as one sound
rather than as a sequence? (7%) 1 timing slot with 2 values for [continuant] and whatever else
needs to change, like [+anterior] to [±anterior].
8. Give examples of (a) universal (implicit) and (b) language±specific default rules (6%). Implicit:
[+approximant] ⇒ [+sonorant]. Spanish-specific: [Dorsal] ⇒ [±nasal].
9. Define natural class (6% ). A group of sounds with so many features in common that the
class can be defined with fewer features than those needed to define any one of the
members.
10. What sounds (one per bundle) do the following bundles of features represent (4% each)?
10a. /l/
+sonorant 
+ consonantal 

+ lateral
CORONAL 

+ anterior
10b. [ph]
−sonorant 
+ consonantal 
− voice

+spread

− continuant 
 LABIAL

10d. /g/
10c. //
+sonorant 
− consonantal 

− high

− low

+ back

− round
−sonorant 
+ consonantal 
+ voice

− continuant 
 DORSAL 
11. Assume a language with the following consonant phonemes:
p
b
f
m
}
t
d
s
n
ß
c
Ô
ç
k
Œ
x
Sonorant
¤
¤
¤
+
¤
¤
¤
¤
+
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
Consonantal
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Nasal
¤
¤
¤
+
¤
¤
¤
¤
+
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
Continuant
¤
¤
+
+
¤
¤
+
+
¤
¤
+
¤
¤
+
Place
L
L
L
C
C
C
C
C
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
+
+
+
+
+
¤
+
¤
¤
¤
¤
+
+
+
¤
+
+
+
¤
¤
+
¤
¤
¤
+
¤
¤
+
¤
L
Anterior
Distributed
+
+
¤
+
Voice
+
¤
¤
High
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Back
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
¤
+
+
+
Make bundles of features for the following natural classes (4% each):
11a.
/p b/ [Labial, ±son, +cont]
11b.
/p t c k/ [±son, ±cont, ±voice]
11c.
/f } s ß ç x/ [±son, +cont]
11d.
/c Ô ç/ [Dorsal, ±son, ±back]
Write two redundancy (default) rules which are true for the above consonant inventory (2% each). Number them
11e and 11f.
11e.
[+cont] ⇒ [±voice]
11f.
[+back] ⇒ [+high, +dist, Dorsal, ±nasal]
Since the language appears to have no liquids or vowels, everything is [+cons].