Obligatory Contour Principle: Difference between revisions
(def.) |
No edit summary |
||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Brokenlinks}} | |||
{{stub}} | |||
In [[phonology]], the '''Obligatory Contour Principle''' is a general principle stating that two identical features should not occur in succession. | In [[phonology]], the '''Obligatory Contour Principle''' is a general principle stating that two identical features should not occur in succession. | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
* A sequence of two identical vowels must either be broken up by [[hiatus]] or coalesce into a [[long vowel]]; they may not form a [[diphthong]]. | * A sequence of two identical vowels must either be broken up by [[hiatus]] or coalesce into a [[long vowel]]; they may not form a [[diphthong]]. | ||
** Similarly, diphthongs of the type /ij/ or /uw/ are practically unheard of; /ji/ and /wu/ are also prohibited by several languages, or at least do not contrast with /i/ and /u/ (English is one exception: cf. ''yeast'' vs. ''east'') | |||
* In [[Tone|tonal]] languages, adjacent syllables may not be marked for the same tone; in cases where this situation is found phonetically, it is analysed in terms of tone spreading, word tone or pitch accent. | * In [[Tone|tonal]] languages, adjacent syllables may not be marked for the same tone; in cases where this situation is found phonetically, it is analysed in terms of tone spreading, word tone or pitch accent. | ||
* Languages commonly prohibit | * Languages commonly prohibit [[Consonant cluster|clusters]] of similar consonants, especially of two [[sibilant]]s. | ||
The OCP also accounts for the cross-linguistic rarity of | The OCP also accounts for the cross-linguistic rarity of [[root]]s containing several identical consonants (with the exception of [[baby-talk]] words such as ''mama, papa, nana, daddy, booboo, peepee, titty'', which may fall under primitive [[reduplication]]). | ||
The motivation of sound changes involving [[dissimilation]] may be included under the OCP. | The motivation of sound changes involving [[dissimilation]] may be included under the OCP. | ||
{{Phonetics and Phonology}} | |||
Latest revision as of 11:42, 3 November 2012
| There are a lot of red links in this article! If you can, please help clean this up by fixing the links or creating the missing pages.
|
In phonology, the Obligatory Contour Principle is a general principle stating that two identical features should not occur in succession.
Examples:
- A sequence of two identical vowels must either be broken up by hiatus or coalesce into a long vowel; they may not form a diphthong.
- Similarly, diphthongs of the type /ij/ or /uw/ are practically unheard of; /ji/ and /wu/ are also prohibited by several languages, or at least do not contrast with /i/ and /u/ (English is one exception: cf. yeast vs. east)
- In tonal languages, adjacent syllables may not be marked for the same tone; in cases where this situation is found phonetically, it is analysed in terms of tone spreading, word tone or pitch accent.
- Languages commonly prohibit clusters of similar consonants, especially of two sibilants.
The OCP also accounts for the cross-linguistic rarity of roots containing several identical consonants (with the exception of baby-talk words such as mama, papa, nana, daddy, booboo, peepee, titty, which may fall under primitive reduplication).
The motivation of sound changes involving dissimilation may be included under the OCP.
| This article is part of a series on Phonetics and Phonology. Affricate * Allophone * Aspiration * Bilabial consonant * Buccal * Coronal consonant * Dental consonant * Fricative * Heng * Manner of articulation * Obligatory Contour Principle * Palatalization-split * Phoneme * Phoneme hole * Phonological feature * Rhotacism * Spirant * Stop * Syllable structure * Velar consonant * * |
