Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure Ch 16: Using the symbol {#}

1. Discussion “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea, but where do we run into problems?

1. Discussion “One form – one meaning” – a nice idea, but where do we run into problems? –Well, just about everywhere Does prefix у- have one meaning? Does the infinitive morpheme have one shape? Does the Dsg morpheme have either?

2. Definitions Contrastive distribution:

2. Definitions Contrastive distribution: –When two items appear in the same environment, and can thus contrast Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат Complementary distribution:

2. Definitions Contrastive distribution: –When two items appear in the same environment, and can thus contrast Eg. Palatalized vs. non-palatalized in мать vs. Мат Complementary distribution: –When two items never appear in the same environment and cannot contrast Eg. English aspirated and unaspirated stops, or Russian [c] vs. [  ]

2. Definitions, cont’d. Free variation:

2. Definitions, cont’d. Free variation: –When two items can appear in the same environment, but don’t seem to contrast anyhow Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. – ею/-ою Neutralization:

2. Definitions, cont’d. Free variation: –When two items can appear in the same environment, but don’t seem to contrast anyhow Eg. Russian нет vs. нету or Isg(fem) –ей/-ой vs. – ею/-ою Neutralization: –When only one of a set of options can appear in a given environment (eg. only voiceless obstruents appear word-finally)

3. Morpheme boundaries What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker?

3. Morpheme boundaries What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker? phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending How can we tell?

3. Morpheme boundaries What kinds of morpheme boundaries are there and which are relatively stronger/weaker? phrase>word>preposition/prefix>suffix/ending How can we tell? –Phrase & word boundaries cause final devoicing –Preposition/prefix boundary shows t, p, b not softening before ъV –Suffix/ending shows /o/,/a/ > [  ]

4. Vowel-zero What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation and what’s with {l}?

4. Vowel-zero What’s the rule for vowel-zero alternation and what’s with {l}? –If you have two consecutive syllables with {#} as the vowel, the one to the left becomes a vowel, and the one to the right drops –The vowel is basic o, unless it is surrounded by soft consonants or /š/, /ž/, /c/, in which case it is basic e –{l} “likes” to be soft

6. Inventory of non-root morphemes thus far… So what are they?

6. Inventory of non-root morphemes thus far… {,ot} 3sg non- past {,} (as in голубь{o} Nsgneut; prep; linking vowel {e} Lsg {a} Nsgfem; Gsgmascneut; Asgmascanim; NAplneut {#} Nsgmascfem; Gpl; masc past {s#} preposition/ prefix {i} Npl, DGLsgfem {,i} verbal suffix{#k} diminutive{,#n} adj-forming suffix {raz#} prefix ({roz#}) {ij}/{oj} Nsgmasc adj {t  #} infinitive{v#} preposition/ prefix {,#c} suffix

7. What’s the point? Is there any advantage to having a vowel- zero alternation?

7. What’s the point? Is there any advantage to having a vowel- zero alternation? –It can serve as a redundant index of part of a paradigm (similar to stress)

8. Can you write this in Russian? {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx}

8. Can you write this in Russian? {ne|š#v|í||v#|v#š|áx||a|v#š|í||v#|š#v|áx} «Не швы во вшах, а вши во швах»

9. Give the morphophonemic transcriptions вошьшовдно донлёнльна бездо  нный

9. Give the morphophonemic transcriptions вошь {v#š|#}шов {š#v|#}дно {d#n|o} дон {d#n|#}лён {ļ#n|#}льна {ļ#n|a} бездо  нный {bez#|d#n|,#n|ij}