LINGUIST List 13.3231

Mon Dec 9 2002

Books: Phonology: Kehrein

Editor for this issue: Marisa Ferrara <marisalinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. info, Phonological Representation and Phonetic Phasing: Kehrein

		
Title: Phonological Representation and Phonetic Phasing
Subtitle: Affricates and Laryngeals
Series Title: Linguistische Arbeiten 466
			
Publication Year: 2002
Publisher: Max Niemeyer Verlag Gmbh
 http://www.niemeyer.de/
			
Author: Wolfgang Kehrein 
				
Paperback: ISBN: 3484304669, Pages: VI+236, Price: EUR 62.00
			
Abstract:
			
This monograph contains two detailed case studies dealing with the
phonetics and phonology of affricates and laryngeals. Based on a
survey of 281 languages it states a number of universal
generalizations which go counter to common assumptions in the
phonological and phonetic literature. Most importantly, (1) a
phonological concept 'affricate' does not exist at all. Affricates are
exclusively stops for matters of phonological contrasts and natural
classes, but they are no contour segments composed of [stop] and
[continuant]. (2) Laryngeal features are properties of the prosodic
level of onset, nucleus, and coda, but not of individual
segments. Again, this is shown to hold for contrasts and phonology
proper (assimilation, neutralization, 'metathesis' etc.). Based on
the empirical findings the book addresses a number of theoretical
issues as, e.g., the interaction of phonetics and phonology, or
questions of phonological representation. It is claimed that phonetics
fulfills important functions with regard to phonology: 'affrication'
and laryngeal phasings (e.g. pre- vs. postaspiration) are presented as
purely phonetic strategies which serve to make phonological
specifications acoustically more salient. Finally, two revisions to
current models of feature theory are proposed, both of which lead to a
leaner structure of phonological segments: first, stricture contours
are eliminated from phonological representation; second, the
'Laryngeal Node' is attached directly to onsets, nuclei, and codas.
			
Lingfield(s): Phonetics, 
		Phonology
			 
Written In: English (Language Code: ENG)