University Abdelmalek Essaadi
Faculty of letters
S5 Phonetics and Phonology
Pr El Hadri
2023-2024
Distinctive Features : Exercises
1. Identify the following natural classes :
ii.
iii.
iv.
2. Circle the segments which are not :
i. [+anterior]
ii. [-sonorant]
iii. [+syllabic]
iv. [-Del Rel] ,
v. [+strident] , ,
3. Assume a segmental inventory composed of: [ʕ k t d s z n p f b i u e o a w h].
Indicate what feature or features characterize the following classes of sounds.
i. ʕkuoaw
ii. fpkh
iii. fpbtsdzn
iv. ʕuowabdznie
vi. izned
4. Based on the segmental inventory [p t k b d m n ɣ φ f s l a i o u ],
(1) provide a feature matrix for the first three sounds, (2) characterise all the
following segments or groups of segments uniquely using the fewest features
possible.
University Abdelmalek Essaadi
Faculty of letters
S5 Phonetics and Phonology
Pr El Hadri
2023-2024
i. ɣ
ii. i
iii. n
iv. b, d
v. a, o
vi. o, u
5. State all of the features which are changed in each of the following rules.
i. p→f
ii. t→ŋ
iii. o→w
iv. k→s
v. s→t
vi. a→i
6. Formalise the following rules using distinctive features (segmental inventories
to be assumed for each language are given in brackets).
i. b,d,g → β,ð,ɣ / V __
ii. p,k,q → β,ɣ,/ ___V
iii. t → s / __i
iv. s → r / V__V
7. Fill in the following matrices
Sonorant
Consonantal
Continuant
Del release
strident
University Abdelmalek Essaadi
Faculty of letters
S5 Phonetics and Phonology
Pr El Hadri
2023-2024
Sonorant
Consonantal
Nasal
lateral
Sonorant
Consonantal
High
Back
Round
Round
anterior
strident
high
back
More Data Analysis
1. Modern Greek
Determine whether the two segments [k] and [ky] are contrastive or are governed
by rule; similarly, determine whether the difference between [x] and [x y] is
contrastive or predictable. If the distribution is rule-governed, what is the rule and
what do you assume to be the underlying consonants in these cases?
kano ‘do’ kori ‘daughter’
xano ‘lose’ xori ‘dances’
xyino ‘pour’ kyino ‘move’
krima ‘shame’ xrima ‘money’
xufta ‘handful’ kufeta ‘bonbons’
kali ‘charms’ xali ‘plight’
xyeli ‘eel’ kyeri ‘candle’
University Abdelmalek Essaadi
Faculty of letters
S5 Phonetics and Phonology
Pr El Hadri
2023-2024
xyeri ‘hand’ oxyi ‘no’
2. Consider the following data from English and decide on whether the
variation of the phones [], [], [], [] is contrastive or not. Justify your
answer.
file slight wealth listen
fool flight health lose
all plow filthy allow
ball cling tilth aglow
Fell discipline stealth blend
feel
3. Consider the following data from Hindi and account for the distribution of
[] and [b]
‘large’ ‘disagreement’
‘heavy’ ‘twenty-two’
‘without’ ‘buffalo’
‘crowd’ ‘father’
‘sackcloth’ ‘part’