Contrast and Vowel Features

This study explores the upper bound of possible segments in the world's languages and the features that define it. I limit the discussion to vowels in two databases of phoneme inventories: UPSID and P‐Base. Common problems in using such databases are considered and a method to avoid them is int...

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Published inThe Segment in Phonetics and Phonology pp. 218 - 235
Main Author Duanmu, San
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 04.05.2015
Subjects
contrast
features
phoneme inventories
vowels
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Abstract This study explores the upper bound of possible segments in the world's languages and the features that define it. I limit the discussion to vowels in two databases of phoneme inventories: UPSID and P‐Base. Common problems in using such databases are considered and a method to avoid them is introduced, where the notion of contrast plays a central role. The results show no compelling evidence for any language to require a three‐way contrast in any feature dimension. In addition, while [high] and [low] are commonly used to define three degrees of vowel height, one is found to be sufficient, giving two degrees of height. I conclude that there are far fewer possible vowels, and far fewer features needed, than often assumed.
AbstractList This study explores the upper bound of possible segments in the world's languages and the features that define it. I limit the discussion to vowels in two databases of phoneme inventories: UPSID and P‐Base. Common problems in using such databases are considered and a method to avoid them is introduced, where the notion of contrast plays a central role. The results show no compelling evidence for any language to require a three‐way contrast in any feature dimension. In addition, while [high] and [low] are commonly used to define three degrees of vowel height, one is found to be sufficient, giving two degrees of height. I conclude that there are far fewer possible vowels, and far fewer features needed, than often assumed.
Author Duanmu, San
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Copyright Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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DOI 10.1002/9781118555491.ch10
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Raimy, Eric
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Snippet This study explores the upper bound of possible segments in the world's languages and the features that define it. I limit the discussion to vowels in two...
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StartPage 218
SubjectTerms contrast
features
phoneme inventories
vowels
Title Contrast and Vowel Features
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