LINGUIST List 15.303

Tue Jan 27 2004

Qs: Syllable Codas; Mandarin Stops/Aspiration

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Directory

  1. Laurie Woods, Phonology
  2. Carol L. Tenny, Question: stops in Mandarin

Message 1: Phonology

 Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:27:38 -0500 (EST)
From: Laurie Woods <lgw202nyu.edu>
Subject: Phonology

I am compiling a list of phonological conditions on syllable codas in
the languages of the world, such as the condition in the Australian
language Lardil (and also in Finnish) that only coronal consonants can
appear in syllable codas. I would appreciate help in this endeavor.
Please send me information about languages that have particular
restrictions on syllable codas. Many thanks, Laurie Woods
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Message 2: Question: stops in Mandarin

 Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 08:00:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Carol L. Tenny <tennylinguist.org>
Subject: Question: stops in Mandarin


According to Campbell's 'Compendium of World's Languages', Mandarin has
the PHONEMES /p,t,k,b,d,g/. However, /b,d,g/ are actually PHONETICALLY
UNVOICED.
Furthermore /b,d,g/ are unaspirated and /p,t,k/ are aspirated.
This means there actually is a contrast between a PRONOUNCED aspirated and
unaspirated [p,t,k].


What does it mean to have voiced phonemes that are always(?) phonetically
unvoiced, and more importantly, how can I make my Mandarin speakers in my
class understand this?

I was actually trying to show them that aspiration was contrastive in
Mandarin, but they balked because of the /p,b/ problem. Can I show them
contrastive aspiration in another way?

Does this also exist in Shanghai or Cantonese? I also have speakers of
these dialects.

Thank you for any help with extricating me and my class from this confusion.

Carol Tenny
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