Re: IPA Null Consonant

From: Peter_Constable@sil.org
Date: Mon May 26 2003 - 13:38:14 EDT

  • Next message: Peter_Constable@sil.org: "Re: IPA Null Consonant"

    Doug wrote on 05/26/2003 09:40:16 PM:

    > Why does a phonetic transcription system need a symbol to indicate the
    > absence of a sound?

    It does not. The following are common situations in which lingusts use a
    null symbol, however:

    - In a transcription that shows morpological analysis, with morphemes
    making up a wordform usually separated by hyphens, if a paradigm has an
    unmarked member, then the null symbol will often be used in the
    transcribed morphological analysis.

    - In phonology, rules of epenthesis will often be written in the form

    ∅ → x / y _ y

    and similarly rules of deletion will use a null.

    - Likewise, in historical linguistics, if a phoneme has arisen in certain
    contexts, it might be said to be a reflex of *∅ (asterisk conventionally
    used to indicate reconstructed proto-forms); and a null might also be used
    to indicate that a proto-phoneme has been deleted in certain contexts.

    - Perhaps also in formal semantics, to indicate the empty set (not exactly
    something frequently referred to in formal semantics, but the need can
    arise).

    - Peter

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Peter Constable

    Non-Roman Script Initiative, SIL International
    7500 W. Camp Wisdom Rd., Dallas, TX 75236, USA
    Tel: +1 972 708 7485



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