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The distribution of allophones

The distribution of allophones. Kuiper and Allan Chapter 5.1. Complementary distribution. Each speech sound in a set which are in complementary distribution appears in a different phonetic environment to the others in the set. e.g. all the different t sounds. Exercise.

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The distribution of allophones

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  1. The distribution of allophones Kuiper and Allan Chapter 5.1

  2. Complementary distribution • Each speech sound in a set which are in complementary distribution appears in a different phonetic environment to the others in the set. • e.g. all the different t sounds.

  3. Exercise • Look at the following two k sounds and see if they are in complementary distribution, i.e. can you put one in the place of the other and vice versa? keen [kHin ] (aspirated k) and beckon [bek<] (nasal release k)

  4. Allophones in complementary distribution • are allophones of the same phoneme if they are phonetically similar. • The two k allophones are phonetically similar and are therefore allophones of the phoneme /k/.

  5. Exercise • Look at the distribution of /h/ and /N/. hit, heart, ahead sing, singer, long • Where in the syllable do these two sounds occur? • Are they in complementary distribution? • Are they phonetically similar?

  6. Defective distribution • These two sounds both have defective distribution in English, i.e. they do not appear in all the places you might expect a consonant to appear. • Note in Maori /N/ is not defectively distributed.

  7. Parallel distribution • Sounds which are in parallel distribution appear in the same kinds of places, e.g. • initially in a syllable • finally in a word • medially between vowels • before consonants • Sounds which are in parallel distribution cannot be allophones of the same phoneme.

  8. Free variation • involves a choice of sound alternatives not conditioned by linguistic factors, e.g. • /ek´nÅmIks/ vs /ik´nÅmIks/ /iD´/ vs /aiD´/ • Free variation also takes place with allophones. • In NZ English some speakers have slightly higher or more central variants of some vowel phonemes than others.

  9. Free variation and social factors • The choice of free variants is often a result of social factors. • Often statistical in that some speakers may produce relatively more of one free variant that other speakers. • Factors: • social class • gender • ethnicity

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