CHAPTER I

DISCUSSION
1. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

The smallest units of linguistic structure, from which larger units are built, sometimes
seen as the attributes by which phonemes can differ. The idea is fundamental in phonology,
where many generalisations are standardly stated in terms of features. In phonological theory the
building blocks of speech sounds are often argued to be what are called “distinctive features.”
They typically have phonetic definitions and phonetically inspired names (e.g., [voice], [nasal],
[labial]). While various algorithms for feature specification exist, segments and natural classes
of segments are typically interpreted as bundles of the phonetically defined feature values that
match their phonetic descriptions. Throughout the history of distinctive feature theory, a major
goal has been to identify a set of features that is adequate for describing the segmental contrasts
and phonologically important segment groups observed in the world’s languages

In linguistics, a distinctive feature is the most basic unit of phonological structure that
may be analyzed in phonological theory.Distinctive features are grouped into categories
according to the natural classes of segments they describe: major class features, laryngeal
features, manner features, and place features. These feature categories in turn are further
specified on the basis of the phonetic properties of the segments in question.

Since the inception of the phonological analysis of distinctive features in the 1950s,
features traditionally have been specified by binary values to signify whether a segment is
described by the feature; a positive value, [+], denotes the presence of a feature, while a negative
value, [−], indicates its absence. In addition, a phoneme may be unmarked with respect to a
feature. It is also possible for certain phonemes to have different features across languages. For
example, could be classified as a continuant or not in a given language depending on how it
patterns with other consonants.
 VOWELS GLIDES LIQUID NASAL OBSTRUENTS
+ SYLLABIC SYLLABIC

-CONSONANTAL + CONSONANTAL

+ APPROXIMANT APPROXIMANT

+ SONORANT - SONORANT

STOPS FRICATE AFFRICATE

Continuant Continuant

Delayed Relase Delaye Release

A. Major Class

The major class features are variable features used in classifying sounds and the description
of the human speech sound system (osinsanwo 2012 : 189). Chomsky and halle (1968), derived
the major classes were based on the constriction of air flow from the lungs. In major class can be
classified into five categories.

 [+/− syllabic] Syllabic : it takes a sound that can function as the nucleus of a syllable,
hence all vowels and syllabic consonant (m, n, l) are the only sound in the syllabic
sound. Syllabic /l/ and /n/ typically occur in an unstressed syllable immedietly alveolar
consonant /t/, /s/, /z/, as well as /d/
Example :

bottle /ˈbɑ:tḷ/, cattle /ˈkætḷ/ cotton /ˈkɑ:tṇ;/, button /ˈbʌtṇ/.

listen /ˈlɪsṇ/, fasten /ˈfæsṇ/ risen /ˈrɪzṇ/, prison /ˈprɪzṇ/

saddle /ˈsædḷ/, poodle /ˈpu:dḷ/ sadden /ˈsædṇ/, burden /ˈbɚdṇ/

 Syllabic /ḷ/ can also follow /st/ or plain /n/ or /nt/

Examples:

pistol /ˈpɪstḷ/ tunnel /ˈtʌnḷ/ mantle /ˈmæntḷ/

The symbol /ə/ preceding the consonant "m" does not itself represent a sound. It signifies
instead that the following consonant ("m") is syllabic; that is, the consonant itself forms
the nucleus of a syllable that does not contain a vowel.

Examples:

feudalism /ˈfju:dəˌlɪzəm/ heroism /ˈherəˌwɪzəm/

 [+/− consonantal] in the production of a continuant , the flow of air from the lungs is not
totally blocked in the oral cavity. The air is allowed to continue to be release through the
oral cavity.
Consonantal segments are produced with an audible constriction in the vocal tract, such
as obstruents, nasals, liquids, and trills. Vowels, glides and laryngeal segments are not
consonantal. Example consonantal are p, /k, /b, /f, /s, /t, /d, /g, /l, /n, /m, /r, /f, /w, /j,/z

 [+/− approximant] Approximant segments include vowels, glides, and liquids while
excluding nasals and obstruents. Approximiants are speech sounds that involve the
articulators approaching each other but not narrowly enough nor with enough
articulatory precision to create turbulent airflow. Therefore, approximants fall between
fricatives, which do produce a turbulent airstream, and vowels, which produce no
turbulence.This class is composed of sounds like (i) (as in rest) and semivowels like [j]
and [w] (as in yes and west, respectively), as well as lateral approximants like [l] (as in
less). Example approximant l, /r, /y, /w.
Like yes
Right wet
 [+/− sonorant] This feature describes the type of oral constriction that can occur in the
vocal tract. [+son] designates the vowels and sonorant consonants (namely glides,
liquids, and nasals), that are produced without an imbalance of air pressure in the vocal
tract that might cause turbulence. [−son] describes the obstruents, articulated with a
noticeable turbulence caused by an imbalance of air pressure in the vocal tract. Sonorat
orresonant is a speech sound that isproduced with continuous, non-turbulentairflow in
the vocal tract; these are themanners of articulation that are mostoften voiced in the
world's languages.Vowels are sonorants, as are consonantslike /m/ and /l/: approximants,
nasals,flaps or taps, and most trills.

Example of sonorant
sonorant consonantal phonemes: /l/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /ɹ/, /w/, /j/.

Manner features: The features that specify the manner of articulation.

 [+/− continuant] This feature describes the passage of air through the vocal tract. [+cont]
segments are produced without any significant obstruction in the tract, allowing air to
pass through in a continuous stream. [−cont] segments, on the other hand, have such an
obstruction, and so occlude the air flow at some point of articulation. continuants
include fricatives (s, f, (θ) , etc.), nasals (m, n, ŋ), liquids (l, r), and vowels

 [+/− nasal] This feature describes the position of the velum. [+nas] segments are
produced by lowering the velum so that air can pass through the nasal tract. [−nas]
segments conversely are produced with a raised velum, blocking the passage of air to the
nasal tract and shunting it to the oral tract. The sounds are : /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/.

 [+/− strident] The strident feature applies to obstruents only and refers to a type of
friction that is noisier than usual. This is caused by high energy white noise.
 [+/− lateral] This feature designates the shape and positioning of the tongue with respect
to the oral tract. [+lat] segments are produced as the center of the tongue rises to contact
the roof of the mouth, thereby blocking air from flowing centrally through the oral tract
and instead forcing more lateral flow along the lowered side(s) of the tongue.
 [+/− delayed release]This feature distinguishes stops from affricates. Affricates are
designated. Example of delayed release /s, /z ,/ʃ , /ʒ , /ʃ , /f , and /θ
 DISCUSSION
1. CONSONANT MANNER FEATURES

VOWELS GLIDES LIQUID NASAL OBSTRUENTS

+ SYLLABIC SYLLABIC

-CONSONANTAL + CONSONANTAL

+ APPROXIMANT APPROXIMANT

+ SONORANT - SONORANT

Stops Fricate Affricate

Continuant Continuant

Delayed Relase Delaye Release