(toc) #title= (Table of Content)
Environmental Effects:
Knowing a language involves having the knowledge of the phonology or sound system of that language. This helps us in identifying the phonetic segments that occur in the language, and the ways in which they are patterned. Phonology deals with the study of the occurrence, organization, distribution, and pronunciation of speech sounds. It is also seen as the study of sound patterns in a language and the interrelatedness between sounds. Phonology and morphology are related in that while morphology deals with morphemes, that is, word building, phonology deals with the understanding of sounds of languages and their relevance with respect to how they should be used appropriately in communication. The relevant connection between morphology and phonology, therefore, pertains to the ways in which certain morphemes are pronounced or articulated. Constraints of this sort can be found in both derivational and inflectional morphemes. This is what morpho-phonemics is all about. The major function of phonological rule in morphology is to provide the phonetic information necessary for the pronunciation of words. The application of rules in this way is called a derivation. Some of these phonological rules affect either the plural markers /-s/, thereby making it be realized as any of these, e.g., book + s = books / buks /, bag + s = bags / bægz /, box + es = boxes / b> ksⅠ z /, and the regular past tense marker (-ed), thereby making it be realized as any of these: /d/, e.g., bag + ed = bagged / bægt /, /t/, e.g., jump + ed = jumped / 够Λ mpt /, /Id/, e.g., want + ed = wanted / w> ntⅠ d /.
We have only given examples to show that truly morphology and phonology are interwoven in the way morphemes or words are pronounced. We are careful not to state the rules categorically because it is not part of our objectives. In the subsequent units, this will be taken care of adequately.
Voiceless Consonants and Morphemes (rule 1):
A consonant is said to be voiceless when during its production or pronunciation, the vocal cords are drawn apart and air is allowed to pass through without vibration. This state of non-vibration of the vocal cords is a voiceless state. These phonemes are thus said to be voiceless in English: /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /h/, /s/, /t/, etc. The following realizations take place: tap + s = taps /tæps/, book + s = books /buks/, state + s = states /steⅠts/. From the above, this rule can be stated: (-s) → /s/ voiceless consonants …….. #) in words, the plural morpheme (-z) is realized as phoneme /s/ in an environment where a voiceless consonant precedes it.
Voiced Sounds and Morphemes (rule 2):
A sound is said to be voiced when during its articulation, the vocal cords come so close that air forces itself through it. This causes vibration, and sounds accompanied by vibration are called voiced sounds. All vowels are voiced in English. These consonant phonemes are voiced: /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /够/, /z/, /d/, /3/, /m/, /n/, / Å‹/, etc. The following realizations take place: bag + s = bags / bægz /, day + s = days / deⅠz /, comb + s = fathers / fa:ðә(r)z /. From the above, this rule can be stated. (-s) → /z/ (voiced sound) …….#) in words, the plural morpheme (-s) is realized as /z/ in an environment where a voiced sound precedes it.
Sibilants and Morphemes (rule 3):
Realizations take place: Watch + es = watches / w> t∫iz /, punch + es = punches / pΛn t∫iz /, box + es = boxes / b> ksiz /, bus + es = buses / bΛ siz /. From the above, we can generate this rule: (-s) → /iz/ (sibilant) ……. # ) in words, the plural morpheme (-s) is realized as /iz/ in an environment where a sibilant precedes it.
Self-assessment exercise 1: Explain 2 morphophonemic rules that govern plural morpheme realization in words.
Vowel Change (rule 4):
Some words do not take an ‘s’ to form their plural; they only go through infixation. That is, they experience vowel change. For example, man + s = men / men /, foot + s = feet / fi:t /, tooth + s = teeth / ti:θ /. From the above, this rule can be generated→ (-s) → (V1 → V2) /C – C #) in words, the plural morpheme (-s) is realized as a vowel change in an environment where the vowel is between two consonants.
No Change in Vowel (rule 5):
Some words do not take as ‘s’ to form their plural; they remain the way they are. For example: Sheep + s = sheep, Fish + s = fish. From the above, we can generate this rule (-s) → (θ) in words, the plural morpheme (-s) is realized as a zero morpheme.
Word Change (rule 6):
Some words form their plurals by changing to new words completely. For example, child + s = children / t∫Ⅰ ldren /, ox + s = oxen / > ksn /. This is stated as a rule below: (-s) → (w1 w2) in words, the plural morpheme (-s) is realized as a total word change.
Self-assessment exercise 2: Discuss, with examples, 4 morphophonemic rules of English.
Voiceless Consonants and Past Tense Morphemes (rule 1):
Voiceless consonants, /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /t/, etc display this behaviour with the English past tense Morpheme (-ed). For example, stop + ed = stopped / st> pt /, dance + e = danced / dænst /, walk + ed = walked / w> :kt /. From the above, we can generate this rule. (-ed) → /t/ (voiceless consonant………#) in words, the English past tense morpheme (-ed) is realized as /t/ in an environment where a voiceless consonant precedes it.
Voiced Sounds and English Past Tense Morpheme (rule 2):
English voiced consonants, /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /z/, /h/, /d/, /m/, /n/, e.t.c. and all English vowels (all English vowels are voiced) behave this way with the English past tense morpheme (-ed). For example, play + ed = played / pleayed / pleid /, ban + ed = banned / bænd /, judge + ed = judged / 够^ 够d /, etc. From the above, this rule can be generated. (-ed) → /d/ (voiced sound …….#) in words, the English past tense morpheme (-ed) is realized as /d/ in an environment where a voiced sound (whether consonant or vowel) precedes it.
Vowel Change (rule 3):
Some English words change their vowels to form their past tense. They are of three categories. take + ed = took / tu:k /, run + ed = ran / ræn /, come + ed = came / keim /, will + ed = came / keim /. From this, we can generate this phonological rule: (-ed) → (V1 V2) (C – C #) in words, the English past tense morpheme (-ed) is realized as a change in vowel in an environment where the vowel is between two consonants.
Vowel Change (1) (Rule 3.1):
In words, the English past tense morpheme (-ed) is realized as a change in vowel in an environment where the vowel is between two consonants.
Vowel Change (2) (Rule 3.2):
Some English words change their vowel to form their past tense morpheme with the word starting with a consonant and ending with a vowel. For example: see + ed = saw / s> : /, tear + ed = tore / t> : /. From this, we can generate this phonological rule: (-ed) → (V1 → V2) / (C __ #) in words, the English past tense morpheme (-ed) is realized as a change in vowel where a consonant precedes the changing vowel.
Vowel Change (3) (Rule 3.3):
Some English words change their vowel to form their past tense morpheme with the word starting with a vowel and ending with a consonant. For example: eat + ed = ate / eIt /. From the above, we can generate this rule. (-ed) → (V1→ V2) (#- C#) in words, the English past tense morpheme (-ed) is realized as a change in vowel in an environment where the changing vowel precedes the consonant which is in word final position.
No Change (rule 4):
Some English words retain their base or bare infinitive forms for their past tense form. For example, put + ed = put / pνt /, cut + ed = cut / k^t/, shut + ed = shut / ∫^t/, hurt + ed = hurt / hз:t /, beat + ed = beat / bi:t /. From the above, this phonological rule can be generated. (-ed) → [ θ] (C / V, /)…….#) in words, the English past tense morpheme is realized as no change in the word or vowel (zero morpheme) in an environment where vowels /ν or ^/ is between two consonants.
With Stops:
Some English words form their past tense morpheme by changing the morphological structure or shape. For example: (rule 5). do + ed = did / dⅠd/, go + ed = went / went/. (-ed) → (w1→ w2) in words, the English past tense morpheme is realized as a word changing to another word or word one becomes word two.
Stops or Plosives and English Past Tense Morpheme (rule 6):
Stops or plosives are produced when there is total obstruction in the oral cavity; this leads to the build-up of air and then followed by a sudden release in the manner of a minor explosion. They have a way of affecting (-ed) morpheme as in these examples. want + ed = wanted / w> ntid /, land + ed = landed / lændid /, need + ed = needed / ni:did /. From the above, this phonological rule can be generated. (-ed) → /id/ (stops or plosive)….#) in words, the English past tense morpheme (-ed) is realized as /Id/ in an environment where a stop or plosive sound precedes it.
Self-assessment exercise 3: State, with 2 examples for each, 4 rules that affect the formation of past tense morphemes in English.
Conclusion:
In this unit, we have tried to discuss the interesting relationship that exists between morphology and phonology. We also gave the function of phonological rules as well as cited some examples in our discussion. We have also used phonological rules to explain morphological realizations in words. We noted that some morphemes are phonologically marked because of the environment they found themselves in, thus, buttressing the fact that phonological rules are important tools in morphology. Hence, we stated rules for how voiceless consonants affect morphemes, how voiced sounds affect morphemes, how sibilants affect morphemes, etc. Lastly, we have used phonological rules to explain the English past tense morpheme. We also created rules and used our rules, in a number of ways, to explain how voiceless consonants affect the English past tense morpheme, how voiced sounds affect the English past tense morpheme, etc.
Summary:
In this unit, you have learned:
• what is meant by phonology,
• how morphology and phonology interact,
• phonological rules of the past tense and plural markers at the introductory level.
• voiceless consonants and their effect on the English plural morpheme.
• voiced sounds and their effect on the English plural morpheme
• sibilants and their effects in the English plural morpheme
• phonological rules governing the above statements.
• the effect of voiceless consonants on the English morpheme.
• the effect of voiced sounds on the English morpheme
• phonological rules governing sound of the statements made above.