Languages’ sound inventories: the devil in the details (original) (raw)
2009, Approaches to Phonological Complexity
AI-generated Abstract
The paper critiques and expands upon the traditional understanding of sound inventories in languages, particularly consonantal systems. It contests the notion that consonants are arranged to maximize perceptual distinctness, proposing instead that sound inventories often demonstrate a principle of maximum utilization of available distinctive features, leading to greater auditory similarity among consonants. Historical examples are provided, illustrating how sound change contributes to the evolution of segment inventories, and it argues for a nuanced view of feature re-use that does not always align with minimal cost augmentation.
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