ALLOPHONES
What is an allophone?
A variation of a phoneme that does not change meaning.
What is a minimal pair?
Two words that differ by only one sound and have different meanings
What is the name of the vowel /ə/?
Schwa
What is a syllable?
A unit of sound centered around a vowel
Primary, secondary and unstressed
In the word pin, what allophonic process affects /p/?
Aspiration → [pʰ]
Do ship and sheep form a minimal pair?
Yes
What is the most important part of a syllable?
The vowel (nucleus)
Name the three parts of a syllable
Onset, nucleus, coda
Explain why atom is pronounced with a flap [ɾ] instead of [t].
Because /t/ is between vowels and the second syllable is unstressed
What is the name of the process where /t/ or /d/ becomes [ɾ] between vowels?
Flapping
What must change in a minimal pair: one sound or multiple sounds?
Only one sound
What is a diphthong?
A sound that contains two vowels
What is an open syllable?
A syllable that ends in a vowel
What is an unreleased stop?
A stop consonant that sounds weaker because it is in the coda of a syllable
In which position does dark /l/ [ɫ] occur?
At the end of a syllable (coda position)
Are cat and cut a minimal pair? Why?
Yes, because only the vowel changes (/æ/ vs /ʌ/) and meaning changes
What are the three main dimensions used to classify vowels?
Height, front/back position, and lip rounding
What is the difference between a stressed and an unstressed syllable?
Stressed syllables are stronger, longer, and clearer; unstressed are weaker and often reduced
Why can allophones NOT form minimal pairs?
Because they do not change meaning
Why is the /k/ in backpack often unreleased?
Because it occurs at the end of a syllable (and before another consonant)
Why are writer and rider NOT a minimal pair in American English?
Because flapping makes them sound the same
What happens to vowels in unstressed syllables?
They often reduce to schwa
Explain how syllable position affects allophones.
Different positions (onset, coda, between syllables) trigger different allophones (e.g., aspiration, flapping, dark /l/, unreleased stops)
Why does the word microphone have more than one full vowel sound?
Because of secondary stress, which keeps vowels from reducing to schwa