Intro to Linguistics - Phonology Hw

Intro to Linguistics

1

Phonology homework 2

1. Even (30 points)

Even is a Tungusic language spoken in Yakutia, Siberia. The following data comes from the

Olsk dialect.

[Cʲ] = palatalized consonant ([lʲ], [qʲ]) [ç] = voiceless palatal fricative (farther back than palato-alveolar [ʃ]) [q] = voiceless uvular stop (farther back than velar [k])

[nɪsa] ‘bead’ [çiævʊs] ‘rotted’ [huːn] ‘blows’ [bʊlʊs] ‘sad’ [hɛr] ‘bottom’ [hɔn] ‘his skill’ [hor] ‘cave’ [hɛssə] ‘sole’ [hat] ‘foundation’ [çilʲ] ‘soup’ [hoːksi] ‘hot’ [çɪrqan] ‘knife’ [bʊsqʲɪ] ‘spectacles’ [haːn] ‘knows’ [ɔsɪqam] ‘star’ [çiep] ‘pocket’ [hula] ‘vein’ [hʊl] ‘poplar’ [us] ‘weapon’

1.1 The sounds [ç], [h], and [s] are in complementary distribution in Even. What governs this

distribution? Explain your answer in detail.

1.2 Is the distribution of these sounds phonetically natural in any way? Do any of these

assimilate to the features of their local context? Explain your answer.

1.3 Based on your answer to (1.1), what would you predict that the word ‘Soviet’ ([sovʲɛ:t], locally) is pronounced when it is borrowed by Even speakers? Explain your answer.