Re: non-phonetic english spelling

From: Greg Lee (greg_at_ling.lll.hawaii.edu)
Date: 12/25/04

  • Next message: Jacques Guy: "schwa (Re: non-phonetic english spelling)" 
    Date: 25 Dec 2004 03:53:33 GMT

    John A Rea <j.rea2@insightbb.com> wrote:
    ...
    > In phonology, this term and its symbol are often called "the (note
    > the definite article) reduced vowel.

    That definite article can have a phonetic interpretation: schwa
    is that unique vowel which is unrounded, not front, not back,
    not low, not long, and, in fact, lacks every positive articulatory
    character other than that of being a vowel. I think it is
    really confusing to associate a phonetic symbol with a
    functional phonological theory, trying to decide whether
    something is a schwa according to whether it is a release,
    arises from vowel reduction, is epenthetic, or whatever.
    ... 

    -- 
Greg Lee <greg@ling.lll.hawaii.edu>
  • Next message: Jacques Guy: "schwa (Re: non-phonetic english spelling)"

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