Phonology: Distinctive Features Level 2

Phonology: Distinctive Features 1.2

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This exercise is designed to help you become more familiar with distinctive features in terms of binary distribution (+ or -). For the following questions, you will be selecting the set of phonemes that all share one feature. For more information on major, place, and manner classes, click here to access the tutorial “Features and Classes.”

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Question 1

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+lateral].

A	[L, ɬ, ʎ]
B	[l, j, ɻ] Hint: Only [L, ɬ, ʎ] are each [+lateral]. [j, ɻ] are not produced with lateral airflow through the oral cavity thus are [-lateral].
C	[ʎ, l, j] Hint: Only [L, ɬ, ʎ] are each [+lateral]. [j] is not produced with lateral airflow through the oral cavity thus is [-lateral].

Question 2

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+continuant].

A	[m, j, s] Hint: Only [Ѳ, x, ∫] are each [+continuant]. [m] is nasal thus does not have continual airflow through the oral cavity.
B	[Ѳ, x, ∫]
C	[s, t∫, x] Hint: Only [Ѳ, x, ∫] are each [+continuant]. [t∫] is an affricate which is produced with an initial complete obstruction of airflow thus does not have continual airflow through the oral cavity.

Question 3

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+back].

A	[h, k, x] Hint: Only [w, g, x] are each [+back] as each is velar. [h] is glottal thus [-back].
B	[w, ɣ, j] Hint: Only [w, g, x] are each [+back] as each is velar. [j] is palatal thus[-back]
C	[w, g, x]

Question 3 Explanation:

anterior					dorsal
		coronal							radical
labials				post-alveolar
bilabial	labiodertal	dental	alveolar	retoroflex	palato-alveclar	palatal	velar	uvular	phanyngeal	epiglottal	glottal
					+high	+high	+high
							+back	+back	+back
									+low	+low	[+low]

Question 4

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+anterior].

A	[v, m, k] Hint: Only [Ѳ, f, p] are each [+anterior]. [k] is velar.
B	[Ѳ, f, p]
C	[v, f, ∫] Hint: Only [Ѳ, f, p] are each [+anterior]. [∫] is post-alveolar.

Question 4 Explanation:

anterior					dorsal
		coronal							radical
labials				post-alveolar
bilabial	labiodertal	dental	alveolar	retoroflex	palato-alveclar	palatal	velar	uvular	phanyngeal	epiglottal	glottal
					+high	+high	+high
							+back	+back	+back
									+low	+low	[+low]

Question 5

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+sonorant].

A	[n, j, z] Hint: Only [w, l, n] are each [+sonorant]. [z] is a fricative thus [-sonorant]. [w, l, n] are each [+sonorant].
B	[v, m, x] Hint: Only [w, l, n] are each [+sonorant]. [v, x] are fricatives thus [-sonorant]. [w, l, n] are each [+sonorant].
C	[w, l, n]

Question 6

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [-sonorant].

A	[Ѳ, j, z] Hint: Only [v, z, x] are each [-sonorant]. [j] is [+sonorant].
B	[ð, l, ɹ] Hint: Only [v, z, x] are each [-sonorant]. [l, ɹ] are both [+sonorant].
C	[v, z, x]

Question 7

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+strident].

A	[Ѳ, f, z] Hint: Only [v, s, t∫] are each [+strident]. [Ѳ] is not. In Standard English the following phonemes are [+strident]. [f, v, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ].
B	[v, s, t∫]
C	[v, z, ð] Hint: Only [v, s, t∫] are each [+strident]. [ð] is not. In Standard English the following phonemes are [+strident]. [f, v, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ].

Question 7 Explanation:

anterior					dorsal
		coronal							radical
labials				post-alveolar
bilabial	labiodertal	dental	alveolar	retoroflex	palato-alveclar	palatal	velar	uvular	phanyngeal	epiglottal	glottal
					+high	+high	+high
							+back	+back	+back
									+low	+low	[+low]

Question 8

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+high].

A	[c, j, ʒ]
B	[w, g, χ] Hint: Only [c, j, ʒ] are each [+high]. [χ] is uvular thus [-high].
C	[c, k, p] Hint: Only [c, j, ʒ] are each [+high]. [p] is labial thus [-high].

Question 8 Explanation:

anterior					dorsal
		coronal							radical
labials				post-alveolar
bilabial	labiodertal	dental	alveolar	retoroflex	palato-alveclar	palatal	velar	uvular	phanyngeal	epiglottal	glottal
					+high	+high	+high
							+back	+back	+back
									+low	+low	[+low]

Question 9

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+coronal].

A	[g, t, n] Hint: Only [t, n] are each [+coronal]. [g] is velar.
B	[v, z, d] Hint: Only [z, d] are each [+coronal]. [v] is labial.
C	[t, s, n]

Question 9 Explanation:

anterior					dorsal
		coronal							radical
labials				post-alveolar
bilabial	labiodertal	dental	alveolar	retoroflex	palato-alveclar	palatal	velar	uvular	phanyngeal	epiglottal	glottal
					+high	+high	+high
							+back	+back	+back
									+low	+low	[+low]

Question 10

Select the phonemes below that are characterized by the feature [+delayed released].

A	[f, dʒ, h]
B	[t∫, dʒ, c] Hint: Only [f, dʒ, h] are each [+delayed released], i.e., fricative release. [c] is a stop/plosive thus is released with a ‘burst’ of air.
C	[ð, l, ɹ] Hint: Only [f, dʒ, h] are each [+delayed released], i.e., fricative release. [l, ɹ] are [+sonorant] that are not released with frictation.

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Phonology: Distinctive Features 1.2

anterior

dorsal

coronal

radical

labials

post-alveolar

anterior

dorsal

coronal

radical

labials

post-alveolar

anterior

dorsal

coronal

radical

labials

post-alveolar

anterior

dorsal

coronal

radical

labials

post-alveolar

anterior

dorsal

coronal

radical

labials

post-alveolar

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