Lenition and Contrast: The Functional Consequences of Certain Phonetically Conditioned Sound Changes / Edition 1

by Naomi Gurevich

Overview

This book analyzes 153 languages from a large variety of families to establish a previously unexplored relationship between phonetically conditioned sound changes such as lenitions and functional (meaning maintenance related) considerations. Carefully collecting numerous inventories of consonants, this collection is likely to become an important resource for future linguistics research. By distinguishing between phonetic and phonological neutralization, and showing that the first does not necessarily result in the second, Naomi Gurevich uncovers previously unexplored and often surprising trends in the relationship between phonetics and phonology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415970990
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/09/2004
Series:	Outstanding Dissertations in Linguistics
Pages:	332
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Naomi Gurevich received her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2003.

Table of Contents

Figures Tables Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Investigation of Phonetically Conditioned Sound Changes Chapter 3: Language Analyses Chapter 4: Implications Bibliography Appendix A: Result Summary Appendix B: Glossary Index