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Palatalization and Utilization of Contrast: An Information-theoretic Investigation of Palatalization in Russian

Parker, Jeffrey
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373292844

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Linguistics.
Traditionally phonological analysis separates sounds into two categories: those that are contrastive, i.e. can distinguish words, and those that are not, i.e. are predictably distributed or vary without changing meaning. This binary definition of contrast, however, falls short in dealing with a number of phonological relationships in which sounds exhibit some traits of contrastive sounds, as well as traits associated with non-contrastive sounds. Such intermediate phonological relationships vary in the extent to which they utilize contrast along two dimensions: contexts in which the contrast is utilized and number of lexical items that utilize the contrast. I argue that phonology must include not only the potential, but the utilization of the potential to distinguish words in order to fulfill the implicit expectations built around the concept of contrast. Investigating the utilization of contrast as a quantifiable aspect of phonological relationships allows the phonologist to classify phonological relationships more accurately and more directly predict their effects on the phonological system. In this thesis I use Hall's (2009) Probabilistic Phonological Relationship Model, which employs the information theoretic concepts of probability and entropy, to quantify the degree to which sounds utilize contrast in specific environments. I look at the contrast between palatalized and non-palatalized consonants represented in three sets of Russian data: velars before non-front vowels, a set of consonants word-finally and a set of consonants before palatalized consonants. Each set of data supports the need to investigate utilization of contrast as a core trait of phonological relationships. I show that velars before non-front vowels minimally utilize contrast in two ways: they exhibit contrast in only one context, and only a limited number of lexical items exhibit the contrast in that context. I also show that contrastive consonants for which both palatalized and non-palatalized consonants exist with the same voicing, place and manner of articulation (paired consonants), vary greatly in the extent to which they utilize their contrasts word-finally. I show that this gradience has clear parallels in perception and production, suggesting that utilization of contrast, not just contrast itself, is a key factor for speakers. Labials, which exhibit a low degree of contrast word-finally, suffer from low levels of accuracy during perception and where a palatalized labial is expected a non-palatalized labial is sometimes produced. Lastly, I show that the level of contrast between palatalized and non-palatalized dentals before palatalized dentals and labials has been changing in Russian. All dentals are said to have been palatalized before palatalized dentals and labials, an effect of regressive palatalization. However, regressive palatalization has declined in contemporary Russian, resulting in a new possibility of contrast for dentals before palatalized dentals and labials. I present new empirical data which suggests that the majority of targets of regressive palatalization are no longer palatalized in productions of contemporary speakers. This suggests that while the previous neutralization of contrast in this context has been eroded, the contrast has not been utilized systematically, as it is in other contexts, e.g. word-finally. Instead, the contrast between palatalized and non-palatalized dentals before palatalized dentals and labials have shifted from being neutralized to being (largely) non-utilized in this context. Together these three sets of data suggest that the utilization of contrast is a key component of defining phonological relationships and their effects on speakers. Without an explicit notion of utilization of contrast the synchronic and diachronic effects of contrast discussed in this thesis cannot be accounted for.
Brian Joseph, Dr. (Advisor)
Andrea Sims, Dr. (Advisor)
62 p.
Linguistics
Contrast; Russian; Palatalization; Regressive palatalization; Utilization of contrast; Phonology; Information-theoretic approach; Probabilistic Phonological Relationship Model; Russian velars; Marginal contrast; Partial contrast

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Citations

  • Parker, J. (2013). Palatalization and Utilization of Contrast: An Information-theoretic Investigation of Palatalization in Russian [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373292844

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Parker, Jeffrey. Palatalization and Utilization of Contrast: An Information-theoretic Investigation of Palatalization in Russian. 2013. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373292844.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Parker, Jeffrey. "Palatalization and Utilization of Contrast: An Information-theoretic Investigation of Palatalization in Russian." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373292844

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1373292844
591
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