Autosegmental Phonology

Overview

Autosegmental phonology is a theoretical framework within linguistics that offers a way to represent phonological features. Instead of viewing all features as strictly tied to individual segments (like consonants and vowels), it proposes that some features can operate on separate, parallel tiers. These tiers are often referred to as autosegments.

Key Concepts

The core idea is that phonological features can be unbundled from the segment they are associated with. For example, a tone (like high or low) might be associated with a whole syllable or word, rather than just a single vowel. This allows for a more flexible and accurate analysis of complex phonological patterns.

Autosegments and Tiers

Features like tone, nasality, or vowel harmony are treated as autosegments that float independently. They are linked to segments on the segmental tier through association lines. This parallel structure is key to its explanatory power.

Deep Dive

Autosegmental phonology was developed to handle cases where features seemed to behave independently of the segments they were attached to. This is particularly evident in languages with complex tone systems or extensive vowel harmony rules.

Vowel Harmony

In vowel harmony, vowels within a word must share certain features (e.g., frontness or height). Autosegmental theory represents the harmony feature as an autosegment that spreads across the vowels of the word.

Tone Languages

For tone languages, pitch contours (tones) are treated as autosegments associated with syllables or morphemes. This avoids having to assign a distinct tone to every single vowel, simplifying the representation.

Applications

The framework has been instrumental in analyzing a wide range of phonological phenomena across diverse languages. It provides a powerful tool for understanding the interaction of different phonological features.

• Tone languages (e.g., Mandarin Chinese, Yoruba)
• Vowel harmony systems (e.g., Finnish, Turkish)
• Consonant assimilation
• Stress and intonation

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common misconception is that autosegmental phonology discards segments entirely. In reality, it complements segmental representation by allowing features to operate on separate levels. The challenge lies in accurately determining which features are autosegmental and how they associate.

FAQs

What is the main principle of autosegmental phonology?

The main principle is that phonological features can be represented on independent tiers from the segmental tier and can operate in parallel.

How does it differ from traditional phonology?

Traditional phonology treats features as bound to segments. Autosegmental phonology unbundles these features, allowing them to float and associate independently.

What are examples of features handled by autosegmental phonology?

Prominent examples include tones, vowel harmony features, nasality, and laryngeal features.