Universals of sound change in nasalization / John Hajek.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hajek, John.

Series:

Publications of the Philological Society ; 31.

Publications of the Philological Society ; 31

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nasality (Phonetics).

Linguistic change.

Linguistic universals.

Italian language--Nasality.

Italian language.

Physical Description:

xvi, 254 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford, UK ; Boston : Blackwell Publishers, 1997.

Summary:

This book is the first detailed study of the characteristics of distinctive nasalization in sound change. Relying on copious cross-linguistic and experimental phonetic data, it evaluates the accuracy of universalist claims about nasalization phenomena, as well as the ability or otherwise of phonological formalism since the 1980s to properly describe sound change. Many purported universals are found to conflict and to be without basis. On the other hand, the degree to which prosodic factors influence sound change is unexpectedly established.

Current autosegmental formalism is also found to be little improvement on earlier linear models of phonology. There is strong evidence to suggest recent formalism is even more unconstrained and less successful in delimiting the possible range of sound changes and phonological processes.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [227]-246) and indexes.

ISBN:

0631204563

OCLC:

38048459