Ling 504 Ling 504 Phonological AnalysisPhonological Analysis

Experimental PhonologyExperimental Phonology

ByBy

Radi Abouelhassan Radi Abouelhassan

Why Experiments? Why Experiments?

Why Experiments Why Experiments

Doubts about beliefs Doubts about beliefs

Hope to do something to counteract Hope to do something to counteract the suspected sources of error the suspected sources of error

Experimentation in Phonology Experimentation in Phonology ““No claims in phonology are above doubts: the No claims in phonology are above doubts: the

existence of phoneme, syllable, or the feature existence of phoneme, syllable, or the feature [voice]” (Ohala 1996) [voice]” (Ohala 1996)

“ “ experimental phonology or experimental experimental phonology or experimental anything should be viewed as a spiral process: anything should be viewed as a spiral process: make a claim; test the claim; revise (or abandon) make a claim; test the claim; revise (or abandon) the claim; test the revised claim, etc.” (Ohala the claim; test the revised claim, etc.” (Ohala 1996) 1996)

““tests may only be made of claims which involve tests may only be made of claims which involve things that ultimately, even if indirectly, have things that ultimately, even if indirectly, have observable consequences” (Ohala 1996) observable consequences” (Ohala 1996)

Phonetics and phonology Phonetics and phonology

Stage of separation:Stage of separation: “ there has been an uneasiness about “ there has been an uneasiness about integrating phonetics into phonological studies, because a belief integrating phonetics into phonological studies, because a belief the phonetic module belongs to performance and the the phonetic module belongs to performance and the phonological module belongs to competence.” phonological module belongs to competence.” (Kawahara )(Kawahara )

Universal phonetics mechanisms?Universal phonetics mechanisms? Integrative stance:Integrative stance: “Many phonological patterns can be “Many phonological patterns can be

explained in terms of articulatory and perceptual factors, and explained in terms of articulatory and perceptual factors, and therefore purely phonological explanations without considering therefore purely phonological explanations without considering phonetic substances can be arbitrary, circular, and post hoc. phonetic substances can be arbitrary, circular, and post hoc. (Kawahara) (Kawahara)

The Current SituationThe Current Situation 1.1. Separate territories defined Separate territories defined 2.2. ““Laboratory PhonologyLaboratory Phonology” as a general approach: ” as a general approach: “ “we believe that time has come to undo the assumed division of we believe that time has come to undo the assumed division of

labor between philologists and other speech scientists” (Kingston labor between philologists and other speech scientists” (Kingston 1990) 1990)

Results of IntegrationResults of Integration

1.1. Many experiments explained phonological observations and Many experiments explained phonological observations and many phonological observation motivated experiments many phonological observation motivated experiments

1.1. “ “ The subsequent of establishment of the Laboratory The subsequent of establishment of the Laboratory conference and book series … has clearly played a major conference and book series … has clearly played a major role in the promoting the use of experimental techniques in role in the promoting the use of experimental techniques in the study of phonological knowledge and processing the study of phonological knowledge and processing (Coetzee et al 2009) (Coetzee et al 2009)

1.1. The use of mathematical formulism and computational The use of mathematical formulism and computational methods has increased. methods has increased.

Sample Domains of phonological Sample Domains of phonological

experimentsexperiments Assessment of the distinctive features of speech Assessment of the distinctive features of speech

If phonetically different sounds can be If phonetically different sounds can be psychologically the same psychologically the same

Morpheme structure constraintsMorpheme structure constraints

Phonological change Phonological change

Lexical representationLexical representation

Experimental assessment of the Distinctive Experimental assessment of the Distinctive Features of SpeechFeatures of Speech

voice onset timevoice onset time (commonly abbreviated VOT): (commonly abbreviated VOT):

is a feature of the production of stop consonants. It is defined is a feature of the production of stop consonants. It is defined as the length of time that passes between when a stop as the length of time that passes between when a stop consonant is released and when voicing, the vibration of the consonant is released and when voicing, the vibration of the

vocal cords , beginsvocal cords , begins. . False Knowledge based on the perceptual domain False Knowledge based on the perceptual domain

1.1. What is the distinctive feature between the following pairsWhat is the distinctive feature between the following pairs? ? - a) paid vs. bade a) paid vs. bade - B) tie vs. die B) tie vs. die - c) cool vs. ghoul c) cool vs. ghoul

P, t, k show substantial delay in VOT while b, d, g has a short P, t, k show substantial delay in VOT while b, d, g has a short VOT VOT

Want some examples? Want some examples?

Phonetic Explanation for Phonological Universals: the Case Phonetic Explanation for Phonological Universals: the Case of Distinctive vowel Nasalization (Kawasaki 1986) of Distinctive vowel Nasalization (Kawasaki 1986)

Key Terms:Key Terms: Diachronic Universal: sound changes Diachronic Universal: sound changes

across timeacross time Synchronic Universals: sounds Synchronic Universals: sounds

changes at a time; allophonic changes at a time; allophonic variations variations

Synchronic might lead diachronic Synchronic might lead diachronic change and vice versa change and vice versa

Findings about vowel nasalization Findings about vowel nasalization across languages across languages

1.1. Vowels are often nondistinvtively nasalized in the Vowels are often nondistinvtively nasalized in the environment of nasal consonants, e.g. English, Amerenian environment of nasal consonants, e.g. English, Amerenian and others. and others.

2.2. Synchronically, the sequence of a vowel and a nasal Synchronically, the sequence of a vowel and a nasal consonant often has a free allophonic variant, a simple consonant often has a free allophonic variant, a simple nasalized vowel or a nasalized vowel plus a very weak nasalized vowel or a nasalized vowel plus a very weak residual nasal consonant, e.g. Bengali residual nasal consonant, e.g. Bengali

3.3. Diachronically, distinctive nasal vowels often result from the Diachronically, distinctive nasal vowels often result from the stage mentioned in 2, followed by the complete loss of the stage mentioned in 2, followed by the complete loss of the conditioning nasal consonant, e.g, Middle Chinese. conditioning nasal consonant, e.g, Middle Chinese.

4.4. For distinctive nasal vowel the maximum contrast is syllable For distinctive nasal vowel the maximum contrast is syllable final after an oral consonant whereas the minimal contrast is final after an oral consonant whereas the minimal contrast is next to nasal consonant. next to nasal consonant.

5.5. Partial or complete denasalization of nasal consonants Partial or complete denasalization of nasal consonants adjacent to oral vowels often happens in languages in which adjacent to oral vowels often happens in languages in which the oral-nasal vowel opposition has been established in the the oral-nasal vowel opposition has been established in the enviornment of nasal as well as oral consonants. E.g. nasal enviornment of nasal as well as oral consonants. E.g. nasal consonants are realized as partially denasalized near oral consonants are realized as partially denasalized near oral vowels in Apinaye. vowels in Apinaye.

Hypothesis and Consequence Hypothesis and Consequence

Listeners’ expectations in perceiving speech Listeners’ expectations in perceiving speech play a crucial role in giving rise to sound play a crucial role in giving rise to sound patterns. patterns.

A testable consequence is that “nasalization A testable consequence is that “nasalization on a vowel should be perceptually more on a vowel should be perceptually more evident as adjacent nasal consonants become evident as adjacent nasal consonants become attenuated, for it is the the presence of the attenuated, for it is the the presence of the nasal consonant that permits the listeners to nasal consonant that permits the listeners to reconstruct the orality of a vowel and its reconstruct the orality of a vowel and its absence or weakness which permits the absence or weakness which permits the nasalization to be heard” nasalization to be heard”

Perceptual Experiment to test Perceptual Experiment to test hypothesis hypothesis

Three syllables /mim/, /mum/, /mɑm/ digitally Three syllables /mim/, /mum/, /mɑm/ digitally recorded recorded

The amplitude of nasal consonants attenuated in The amplitude of nasal consonants attenuated in five steps 0 dB, -12-dB, -24 dB, -36 dB, - five steps 0 dB, -12-dB, -24 dB, -36 dB, - ɤdB. ɤdB.

Five token for each conditions for the three Five token for each conditions for the three syllables type syllables type

Participants were asked to identify if there was a Participants were asked to identify if there was a nasal consonants in the stimuli nasal consonants in the stimuli

Then they were asked to identify the degree of Then they were asked to identify the degree of the nasality of the vowels. the nasality of the vowels.

Results Results

Nasal consonants were received Nasal consonants were received reliably until the amplitude was reliably until the amplitude was reduced to -24 dB or the original. reduced to -24 dB or the original.

At -36 dB attenuation Ss responded At -36 dB attenuation Ss responded randomly. randomly.

When the nasals were removed When the nasals were removed completely, Ss indicated that they completely, Ss indicated that they heard no nasals. heard no nasals.

Results (Cont.)Results (Cont.)

In general, the stimuli containing the In general, the stimuli containing the vowel /i/ were perceived as less nasal than vowel /i/ were perceived as less nasal than others. others.

Ss 1 through 5 perceived less nasalization Ss 1 through 5 perceived less nasalization on vowels when the amplitude of nasal on vowels when the amplitude of nasal consonants was decreased. (fallers) consonants was decreased. (fallers)

Ss 6- 11 showed the opposite. (risers) Ss 6- 11 showed the opposite. (risers) The attenuation impacted students The attenuation impacted students

perceptions significantly but in different perceptions significantly but in different ways. ways.

References References Coetzee, A. et al (2009). Introduction: phonological models and Coetzee, A. et al (2009). Introduction: phonological models and

experimental data. Phonology, 26, pp 1-8. experimental data. Phonology, 26, pp 1-8.

Disner, S. (1986) On Describing Vowel Quality. In John Ohala et al Disner, S. (1986) On Describing Vowel Quality. In John Ohala et al (Eds). Experimental Phonology, (pp. 69- 79). American Press: NY(Eds). Experimental Phonology, (pp. 69- 79). American Press: NY

Kawahara, Shigeto (2011) Experimental approaches in theoretical Kawahara, Shigeto (2011) Experimental approaches in theoretical phonology. In. M. van Oostendorp, C. Ewen, E. Hume, and K. Rice phonology. In. M. van Oostendorp, C. Ewen, E. Hume, and K. Rice (eds.) The Blackwell Companion to Phonology, (pp. 2283-2303). (eds.) The Blackwell Companion to Phonology, (pp. 2283-2303). Wiley- Blackwell.Wiley- Blackwell.

Kawasaki, H. (1986). Phonetic Explanation for Phonological Kawasaki, H. (1986). Phonetic Explanation for Phonological Universals: the Case of Distinctive vowel Nasalization. In John Universals: the Case of Distinctive vowel Nasalization. In John Ohala et al (Eds). Experimental Phonology, (pp. 81- 102). American Ohala et al (Eds). Experimental Phonology, (pp. 81- 102). American Press: NY. Press: NY.

Ohala, J. (1996). Experimental Phonology. In John, A. Goldsmith Ohala, J. (1996). Experimental Phonology. In John, A. Goldsmith (Ed.) The Handbook of Phonological Theory, (pp. 713- 724). (Ed.) The Handbook of Phonological Theory, (pp. 713- 724). Blackwell, NY. Blackwell, NY.