Articulatory Inertia Vs 'Systemzwang': Changes In Liaison Phenomena In Recent British English

Allerton, D.J.

English Studies 2000 81 (6)574-581
(ReLIS:jul:juljig:y:2000:v:81:i:6:p:574-581)

Abstract:

There is always a potential conflict of interest between morpheme phonology, word phonology and phrase phonology. Simplicity at the one level may mean complexity at another level, and vice versa. In the simplest conceivable system of phonology each morpheme would have a consistent phonological form which could be used in all words, and similarly for words within the phrase. Such a system may have the advantage of requiring relatively little processing by the speaker, who simply ‘outputs’ each morpheme in its ideal phonetic form; and it may also be easier for the listener to analyse such an ideal sequence. In natural speech, however, the influence of the phonetic context is so strong that different pronunciations of the same morpheme or word are used to ease the articulatory effort of the speaker, particularly at word boundaries. But how far can the speaker go with this without causing serious problems for the listener? The interaction of these different interests, on the one hand of ‘Systemzwang’.

Keywords: Inglés ; Fonología
Pages: 574-581
Volume: 81
Year: 2000
Issue: 6

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