Alternation (linguistics)
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In linguistics, an alternation is the phenomenon of a morpheme exhibiting variation in its phonological realization. Each of the various realizations is called an alternant. The variation may be conditioned by the phonological, morphological, and/or syntactic environment in which the morpheme finds itself.
Alternations provide linguists with data that allow them to determine the allophones and allomorphs of a language's phonemes and morphemes and to develop analyses determining the distribution of those allophones and allomorphs.
The term "sound change" refers to diachronic changes, which occur in a language's sound system. On the other hand, "alternation" refers to changes that happen synchronically (within the language of an individual speaker, depending on the neighbouring sounds) and do not change the language's underlying system.
Phonologically conditioned alternation
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An example of a phonologically conditioned alternation is the English plural marker commonly spelled s or es.[1] This morpheme is pronounced Script error: No such module "IPA"., Script error: No such module "IPA"., or Script error: No such module "IPA".,[note 1] depending on the nature of the preceding sound.
- If the preceding sound is a sibilant consonant (one of Script error: No such module "IPA".), or an affricate (one of Script error: No such module "IPA".), the plural marker takes the form Script error: No such module "IPA".. Examples:
- mass Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural masses Script error: No such module "IPA".
- fez Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural fezzes Script error: No such module "IPA".
- mesh Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural meshes Script error: No such module "IPA".
- mirage Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural mirages Script error: No such module "IPA".
- church Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural churches Script error: No such module "IPA".
- bridge Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural bridges Script error: No such module "IPA".
- Otherwise, if the preceding sound is voiceless, the plural marker takes the likewise voiceless form Script error: No such module "IPA".. Examples:
- mop Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural mops Script error: No such module "IPA".
- mat Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural mats Script error: No such module "IPA".
- pack Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural packs Script error: No such module "IPA".
- cough Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural coughs Script error: No such module "IPA".
- myth Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural myths Script error: No such module "IPA".
- Otherwise, the preceding sound is voiced, and the plural marker takes the likewise voiced form Script error: No such module "IPA"..
- dog Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural dogs Script error: No such module "IPA".
- glove Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural gloves Script error: No such module "IPA".
- ram Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural rams Script error: No such module "IPA".
- doll Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural dolls Script error: No such module "IPA".
- toe Script error: No such module "IPA"., plural toes Script error: No such module "IPA".
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Morphologically conditioned alternation
French has an example of morphologically conditioned alternation. The feminine form of many adjectives ends in a consonant sound that is missing in the masculine form. In spelling, the feminine ends in a silent e, while the masculine ends in a silent consonant letter:[2]
- masculine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA"., feminine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
- masculine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA"., feminine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
- masculine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA"., feminine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
- masculine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA"., feminine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
- masculine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA"., feminine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
- masculine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA"., feminine Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
Syntactically conditioned alternation
Syntactically conditioned alternations can be found in the Insular Celtic languages, where words undergo various initial consonant mutations depending on their syntactic position.[3] For example, in Irish, an adjective undergoes lenition after a feminine singular noun:
- unmutated Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss, mutated in Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
In Welsh, a noun undergoes soft mutation when it is the direct object of a finite verb:
- unmutated Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". "bike", mutated in Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". Template:Gloss
See also
Notes
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- ↑ The vowel of the inflectional suffix -Template:Angbr may belong to the phoneme of either Script error: No such module "IPA". or Script error: No such module "IPA". depending on dialect, and Template:Angbr IPA is a shorthand for "either Script error: No such module "IPA". or Script error: No such module "IPA".". This usage of the symbol is borrowed from the Oxford English Dictionary.
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References
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