Contextual neutralization

From Glottopedia
Revision as of 13:17, 15 May 2008 by Luo (talk | contribs) (from Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

In phonology, contextual neutralization is the loss of phonological distinctions in a specific environment.

Examples

In Dutch, word-final obstruents neutralize: both /t/ and /d/ are realized as voiceless [t] as in /bad/ [bat] and /kat/ [kat].

Comment

When an opposition is neutralized in all environments we speak of absolute neutralization.

Link

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

Reference

  • Kiparsky, P. 1968. Linguistic Universals and Linguistic Change. Reprinted in Explanation in Phonology. Kiparsky, P. 1982, Dordrecht: Foris.