The most basic activity in phonology is the phonemic analysis which establishes what phonemes are and describes the phonemic inventory of the language. Up to the second half of the 19th century and even at the beginning of 20th phonology considered to be separate (young, not interesting) from other branches of linguistics. Since the 1960s the subject was greatly influenced by the generative approach. This made contemporary phonology very complicated, on the other hand it connected phonology intentwainted with all other branches of linguestics. The functional approach allowed to investigate sounds of the language through their function. It was very important because the distinctive function is closely connected with the meaningful side of the language. Phonology deals with meanings. Recent research shows that people do not so much listen to the acoustic properties of sounds as sense how these sounds are distributed within the words, sentences and bigger unist. We listen to how the sounds are used, in which combinations. We focus our attention on how sounds are used contrastivly in sequences pointing to meanings. A distinctive phonological pattern ALWAYS carries a semantic implication. It may come in handy in the ear training where a person should develop the ability to hear very small differences between sounds which differentiate meanings (discrimination). A person should discriminate and indentify separate sounds in sequence.
Phonological analysis always involves finding minimal pairs of words, their forms and bigger units. The first step will be finding a minimal pair. 1) pit – put. We single out the element which distinguishes the differences. The only phonological technique to do this is the opposition. (i-u) [I,u]. The next step is to give name to the units if they distinct smth are called distinctive. Those distinctive units always have smth in common (the basis of comparison and which is not important because doesn`t differentiate the meanings). A new notion notion comes into view which as a dictinctive feature. It is the property which differentiates this opposing units. Икс двоеточие икс плюс минус пэ. There are very few distinctive features which serve to differentiate meanings.
The classification of oppositions was stated by professor Trubetskoi in his work on the basis of phonology. He was the first to state the classification of oppositions. Oppositions can be classified according to three basic criteria. 1) From the point of view of their correlation in the phonological system from the point of view they are connected to each other. We distinguish 2 basic groups here – bilateral and multilateral. Members of bilateral position possess common features characteristic only of the members of this opposition (p:b, k:g). Members of multilateral opposition possess common features which can be found in any other member of phonological system. (t:sh, d:p). If the distinctive feature is recurrent it means the distinctive feature can be found in any other member of phonological system the opposition is proportional. It means (p:b=k:g-t:d). If the distinctive feature is not repeated in any other opposition it is isolated (r:g, b:h). Oppositions can be divided into homogeniace and heterogeniece. Homoginiac is members which possess common features of the same nature and origin. Homogi is always multilateral and extreme points of homogeny oppositions can be unfolded into series of bilateral opposition. (k:нэ носовой = k:n: н носовой) 2)The second criteria involve looking upon the relation between the members of the opposition. Here there are 3 basic types. The first one is widely used in the theory of the language. Those are private binary opposition. (привативные бинарные оппозиции). Members of the private opposition is distinguished by only one distinctive feature. Thus, private binary opposition can be represented – x:x плюс минус р. The member of opposition which doesn`t have a distinctive feature is called weak or unmarked. The other member of opposition which has is called strong and marked. 3) Gradual opposition. The distinctive feature is increasing or decreasing. For example the degrees of comparison in grammar. In phonetics – car-card-cart. 4) Equipollent oppositions. Its members are equal in status thus deferential features are equal in status. [da:ns-dЭns]. 5) From the point of view of the stability of the distinctive feature. Permanent (distinctive features are relevant for all possible context) and neutralized (may lose their distinctive function in some context). In order to arrange sounds of speech into functionally similar groups (phonemes) we use two basic methods. 1) the method of distributional analysis is based on the laws of the phonemic and allophonic distribution. (Distribution – all contexts and positions in which each separate phoneme can occur). Sounds can be interchangeable and non-interchangeable. Interchangeable can be used in the same phonetic environment which represents contrastive distribution. Interchangeable sounds fall into contrastive oppositions (distinctive oppositions). They are functionally relevant. Non-interchang. Can`t appear in the same phonetic invironment. They are used in mutually exclusive positions and they are used in the complementary distribution. The third possibility is free variation.
Ex. Pit-put. I и u являются взаимозаменяемыми.
The second method is called semantic. It is based on the concept of minimal pairs and differentiation of meanings. The change of meaning is stated with the help of the informant.
Destinctive units are identified only if two methods give positive answers.
Plosive – взрывной звук (s – z).