JEPKOECH SHEILA
Mar 28
With relevant examples, describe under specification in phonological analysis ?
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Mar 28
Underspecification in phonological analysis refers to the idea that not all phonetic details are specified in the underlying representation of a sound in a language. This means that certain features of a sound may not be explicitly represented in the underlying form, but are instead determined by the phonological rules of the language.
For example, in English, the /t/ sound can be pronounced as either a voiceless alveolar stop [t] or a voiced alveolar flap [ɾ] depending on its position in a word. In the word "butter," the /t/ is pronounced as a flap [ɾ] between two vowels, but as a stop [t] in the word "top." The underlying representation of the /t/ sound in English does not specify whether it should be pronounced as a flap or a stop, but this variation is determined by the phonological context.
Another example of underspecification can be seen in vowel harmony processes in languages like Turkish. In Turkish, vowels in a word must harmonize in terms of their frontness or backness. However, the underlying representation of a word may not specify the frontness or backness of each vowel, but rather the harmony rule dictates that all vowels in a word must agree in terms of frontness or backness.
Overall, underspecification in phonological analysis highlights the idea that not all phonetic details are explicitly represented in the underlying form of a sound, and that these details are often determined by the phonological rules of a language.
For example, in English, the /t/ sound can be pronounced as either a voiceless alveolar stop [t] or a voiced alveolar flap [ɾ] depending on its position in a word. In the word "butter," the /t/ is pronounced as a flap [ɾ] between two vowels, but as a stop [t] in the word "top." The underlying representation of the /t/ sound in English does not specify whether it should be pronounced as a flap or a stop, but this variation is determined by the phonological context.
Another example of underspecification can be seen in vowel harmony processes in languages like Turkish. In Turkish, vowels in a word must harmonize in terms of their frontness or backness. However, the underlying representation of a word may not specify the frontness or backness of each vowel, but rather the harmony rule dictates that all vowels in a word must agree in terms of frontness or backness.
Overall, underspecification in phonological analysis highlights the idea that not all phonetic details are explicitly represented in the underlying form of a sound, and that these details are often determined by the phonological rules of a language.
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