JPN494: Japanese Language and LinguisticsJPN543: Advanced Japanese Language and Linguistics

Phonology & Phonetics (1)

Phonology & Phonetics

Phonology and Phonetics: Studies of Linguistic Sounds (vowels, consonants, intonations, …)

What’s the difference?

Phonetics

Phonetics is a study of linguistic sounds from the acoustic/articulatory perspectives.

“Sounds” as physical/physiological phenomena → “phones”

NOTE: Only certain aspects of acoustic/articulatory properties of sounds are described. Some phonetic descriptions are more “fine-grained” than others.

Phonology

Phonology is a study of linguistic sounds from the functional perspective.

“Sounds” as building units of meaningful linguistic expressions → “phonemes”

Phoneme: the smallest contrastive unit in the sound system of a language.

Notational Convention

phonetic description: […] (e.g. [spɪn]) phonological (phonemic) description: /…/ (e.g. /spɪn

/) [p], [t], … in the context of Japanese phonetics and

[p], [t], … in the context of English phonetics are distinct (although they represent similar sounds).

Similarly for /p/, /t/, … in Japanese phonology and /p/, /t/, … in English phonology.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): yet another system of phonetic description. It is “language-neutral”.

Phonetics vs. Phonology

pin [phɪn], spin [spɪn], pop [phɑp] [ph] vs. [p]: “different” or “same”? They are different from the phonetic perspect

ive, but the same from the phonological perspective.

[ph] and [p] are allophones of the same phoneme, /p/ (in English).

Complementary distribution

Complementary distribution: allophones (conditional allophones) do not occur in the same phonological environment

– OK: pin [phɪn], spin [spɪn]– ??: pin [pɪn], spin [sphɪn]

Pairs of expressions that have different meanings and that differ in only one sound (phone) are called minimal pairs; they can be used to show that two phones are not allophones of the same phoneme.

– light : right– hit : heat

Free variations (free allophones)

The consonant in ら・り・る・れ・ろ can be realized either as (by different speakers or by the same speaker):

– [ɾ] (flap)– [l] (approximant)– [r] (trill) (rare)

りんご , [ɾiŋgo] ～ [liŋgo] ～ [riŋgo] [ɾ], [l], and [r] are free variations of phoneme /r/ in Ja

panese. Some scholars use the term free allophones.

Two phones can be identified as allophones of the same phoneme only if: – Either they do not occur in the same environment

(complementary distribution) or their opposition do not contribute to difference in meaning (no minimal pair like [ɾaɴ] : [laɴ]); AND

– There is good phonetic reason to group them together (phonetic similarity)

Allophones in one language are not necessarily so in another language

[p] and [ph ] are considered the “same” in English (phonologically)

But they are not in some other languages – 비 [pi] “rain” vs. 피 [phi] “blood” (Korean)

Conversely … [p] and [b] are considered different in English But they are not in some other languages

– 비빔밥 [pibimbap] (Korean)

Ariticulatory Phonetics

Vocal Organs

http://www.jcarreras.homestead.com/RRPhonetics1.html

http://www.jcarreras.homestead.com/RRPhonetics1.html

舌 ( した ), 唇 ( くちびる ) 歯 ( は ), 歯茎 ( しけい ), 硬口蓋 ( こうこう

がい ), 軟口蓋 ( なんこうがい ), 口蓋垂 ( こうがいすい )

咽頭 ( いんとう ), 喉頭 ( こうとう ), 声門 ( せいもん ), 喉頭蓋 ( こうとうがい )

声帯 ( せいたい ), 甲状軟骨 ( こうじょうなんこつ ), 披裂軟骨 ( ひれつなんこつ ), 輪状軟骨 ( りんじょうなんこつ )

Two major types of sounds

Consonants: speech-sounds produced when the speaker either stops or severely constricts the airflow in vocal tract.

Vowels: speech-sounds produced with a relatively open vocal tract, which functions as a resonating chamber.

Consonants in English and Japanese

Place(s) of Articulation:– lips, teeth, alveolar ridge, hard palate, velum (soft

palate), … Manner of Articulation

– stops (plosives), fricatives, affricates, approximants, …

Voicing (Phonation)– voiced vs. voiceless

Stops (Oral Stops) in English

(complete closure of the articulators involved so that the air stream cannot escape through the mouth.)

bilabial: [p] (voiceless), [b] (voiced)– cap [cæp], cab [cæb]

alveolar: [t] (voiceless), [d] (voiced)– feet [fit], feed [fid]

velar: [k] (voiceless), [g] (voiced)– sack [sæk], sag [sæg]

Stops (Oral Stops) in English

[ph], [th], [kh] in syllable-initial position– pin [phin] vs. spin [spin], hip [hɪp]

Stops (Oral Stops) in Japanese

bilabial: [p] (voiceless), [b] (voiced)– パン , 番 ( ばん )

alveolar: [t] (voiceless), [d] (voiced)– 竹 ( たけ ), だけ

velar: [k] (voiceless), [g] (voiced)– 滓 ( かす ), ガス

( 濁点 ( だくてん ; “ ゛” ) indicates [+voiced])

Stops (Oral Stops) in Japanese

No or less aspiration (in syllable- or word-initial position)– パン [pan], 手 [te], 木 [ki]

Japanese alveolar stops ([t], [d]): the front part of the tongue blade contacts the alveolar ridge

English alveolar stops ([t], [d]): the tongue tip contacts the alveolar ridge

Nasals (Nasal Stops) in English

bilabial: [m]– map, Kim

alveolar: [n]– nap, kin

velar: [ŋ] (does not occur in syllable-initial position)

– king(nasals are generally voiced)

Nasals (Nasal Stops) in Japanese

bilabial: [m]– 娘 ( むすめ ); 心配 ( しんぱい )

alveolar: [n]– 猫 ( ねこ ); 今度 ( こんど )

velar: [ŋ]– (φ); 天気 ( てんき )

uvular: [ɴ]– (φ); 券 ( けん )

In word-middle position, [g] alternates with [ŋ] (in some dialects)– 科学 ( かがく ) [kagakɯ] ~ [kaŋakɯ] – ガス [gasɯ] (NOT: [ŋasɯ])

Fricatives in English

(Close approximation of two articulators so that the air stream is partially obstructed and turbulent airflow is produced.)

labio-dental: [f] (voiceless), [v] (voiced) – fan, van

dental (interdental): [ð] (voiceless), [θ] (voiced)– thigh, thy

alveolar: [s] (voiceless), [z] (voiced)– sue, zoo

alveo-palatal: [ʃ] (voiceless), [ʒ] (voiced)– shoe, leisure

glottal: [h] (voiceless)– hit

(n.b.: ʃ = š, ʒ = ž)

Fricatives in Japanese

bilabial: [ɸ] (voiceless)– 古い ( ふるい )

alveolar: [s] (voiceless), [z] (voiced)– 殺気 ( さっき ), 雑記 ( ざっき )

alveo-palatal: [ʃ] (voiceless)– 鹿 ( しか )

palatal: [ç] (voiceless)– 人 ( ひと )

glottal: [h] (voiceless)– 鳩 ( はと )

(voiced alveo-palatal fricative ([ʒ]): only in rapid speech)

サ シ・ス・セ・ソ ･ [sa ʃi sɯ se so] ハ・ヒ・フ・ヘ・ホ [ha çi ɸɯ he ho] ファ・フィ・フェ・フォ [ɸa ɸi ɸe ɸo]

– ファール , フィン , フェリー , フォーム

Affricates in English

(a stop immediately followed by a fricative.) alveo-palatal: [ʧ] (voiceless), [ʤ] (voiced)

– church, judge

(n.b.: ʧ = č, ʤ = ǰ)

Affricates in Japanese

alveolar: [ʦ] (voiceless), [ʣ] (voiced)– 月 ( つき ) , 雑記 ( ざっき )

alveo-palatal: [ʧ] (voiceless), [ʤ] (voiced)– 置換 ( ちかん ), 時間 ( じかん )

(n.b.: ʦ = ts, ʣ = ds, ʧ = č, ʤ = ǰ)

ザ ジ・ズ・ゼ・ゾ･– [za] ~ [ʣa]– [ʤi] (~ [ʒi] in rapid speech)– [zɯ] ~ [ʣɯ]– [ze] ~ [ʣe]– [zo] ~ [ʣo]

[ʣ] (rather than [z]) tends to occur in word-initial position

cf. cars [cɑɚz] vs. cards [cɑɚdz]

タ チ・ツ・テ・ト ･ [ta ʧi ʦɯ te to] ( ツァ [ʦa])

– カデンツァ ダ・ ( ヂ ) ・ ( ヅ ) ・デ・ド [da (ʣi/ʒi) (ʣɯ/

zɯ) de do]

Approximants in English

(A gesture in which one articulator is close to another, but without the vocal tract being narrowed to such an extent that a turbulent airstream is produced.)

alveolar (central): [ɹ]– right

alveolar lateral: [l]– light

labio-velar (central): [w]– well

palatal (central): [j]– yell

(n.b.: j = y, ɹ = r (in Tsujimura’s book))

[ɹ], [l], etc. are called “liquids”. [w], [j], etc. are called “glides” or “semi-vowel

s” (because their qualities are similar to those of vowels).

Approximants in Japanese

alveolar lateral: [l]– りんご

velar: [w]– 若い ( わかい )

palatal: [j]– 安い ( やすい )

Japanese [w] accompanies no or less lip-rounding (than English [w])

Flaps, trills (in English and Japanese)

The tongue-tip hits the alveolar ridge once/repeatedly.

alveolar flap: [ɾ] alveolar trill: [r] (rare)

– りんご [ɾiŋgo] ～ [liŋgo] ～ [riŋgo] alveolar flap in English

– better [bɛɾɚ], rider [ɹaɪɾɚ]

Palatalized consonants in Japanese

[kj], [gj], [nj] ([ɲ]), [mj], [rj] (palatal or alveo-palatal consonants: [ʧ], [ʃ], [ʤ], [ç])

– 客 ( きゃく ), 急 ( きゅう ), 今日 ( きょう )– 逆 ( ぎゃく ), 牛丼 ( ぎゅうどん ), 業界 ( ぎょうかい )– 蒟蒻 ( こんにゃく ), 牛乳 ( ぎゅうにゅう ), 尿 ( にょう )– ミャンマー , ミュージック , 茗荷 ( みょうが )– 略す ( りゃくす ), 竜 ( りゅう ), 旅館 ( りょかん )– 茶 ( ちゃ ), 注意 ( ちゅうい ), チェス , 調子 ( ちょうし ) – 車庫 ( しゃこ ), 週末 ( しゅうまつ ), シェル , 商売 ( しょうばい )– じゃこ , 十 ( じゅう ), ジェスチャー , 女性 ( じょせい )– 百 ( ひゃく ), 日向 ( ひゅうが ), 氷河 ( ひょうが )

“j” is a diacritic indicating palatalization (the phenomenon whereby the tongue body approaches the hard palate).

[ɲ] is a palatal nasal sound.