Transcript Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure

Introduction to Russian
phonology and word structure
Ch 16: Using the symbol {#}
1. Discussion
• “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea,
but where do we run into problems?
1. Discussion
• “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea,
but where do we run into problems?
– Well, just about everywhere
• Does prefix у- have one meaning?
• Does the infinitive morpheme have one shape?
• Does the Dsg morpheme have either?
2. Definitions
• Contrastive distribution:
2. Definitions
• Contrastive distribution:
– When two items appear in the same
environment, and can thus contrast
• Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат
• Complementary distribution:
2. Definitions
• Contrastive distribution:
– When two items appear in the same
environment, and can thus contrast
• Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат
• Complementary distribution:
– When two items never appear in the same
environment and cannot contrast
• Eg. English aspirated and unaspirated stops, or
Russian [c] vs. []
2. Definitions, cont’d.
• Free variation:
2. Definitions, cont’d.
• Free variation:
– When two items can appear in the same
environment, but don’t seem to contrast
anyhow
• Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. –
ею/-ою
• Neutralization:
2. Definitions, cont’d.
• Free variation:
– When two items can appear in the same
environment, but don’t seem to contrast
anyhow
• Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. –
ею/-ою
• Neutralization:
– When only one of a set of options can appear
in a given environment (eg. only voiceless
obstruents appear word-finally)
3. Morpheme boundaries
• What kinds of morpheme boundaries are
there and which are relatively
stronger/weaker?
3. Morpheme boundaries
• What kinds of morpheme boundaries are
there and which are relatively
stronger/weaker?
• phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending
• How can we tell?
3. Morpheme boundaries
• What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there
and which are relatively stronger/weaker?
• phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending
• How can we tell?
– Phrase & word boundaries cause final
devoicing
– Preposition/prefix boundary shows t, p, b not
softening before ъV
– Suffix/ending shows /o/,/a/ > []
4. Vowel-zero
• What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation
and what’s with {l}?
4. Vowel-zero
• What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation
and what’s with {l}?
– If you have two consecutive syllables with {#}
as the vowel, the one to the left becomes a
vowel, and the one to the right drops
– The vowel is basic o, unless it is surrounded
by soft consonants or /š/, /ž/, /c/, in which
case it is basic e
– {l} “likes” to be soft
6. Inventory of non-root
morphemes thus far…
• So what are they?
6. Inventory of non-root
morphemes thus far…
{,ot} 3sg nonpast
{,} (as in голубь
{o} Nsgneut;
prep; linking
vowel
{a} Nsgfem;
Gsgmascneut;
Asgmascanim;
NAplneut
{#}
Nsgmascfem;
Gpl; masc past
{s#} preposition/ {i} Npl,
prefix
DGLsgfem
{,i} verbal suffix
{#k} diminutive
{,#n} adj-forming {raz#} prefix
suffix
({roz#})
{ij}/{oj} Nsgmasc {t#} infinitive
adj
{e} Lsg
{v#} preposition/ {,#c} suffix
prefix
7. What’s the point?
• Is there any advantage to having a vowelzero alternation?
7. What’s the point?
• Is there any advantage to having a vowelzero alternation?
– It can serve as a redundant index of part of a
paradigm (similar to stress)
8. Can you write this in Russian?
• {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx}
8. Can you write this in Russian?
• {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx}
• «Не швы во вшах, а вши во швах»
9. Give the morphophonemic
transcriptions
вошь
шов
дно
дон
лён
льна
бездонный
9. Give the morphophonemic
transcriptions
вошь {v#š|#}
шов {š#v|#}
дно {d#n|o}
дон {d#n|#}
лён {ļ#n|#}
льна {ļ#n|a}
бездонный
{bez#|d#n|,#n|ij}