This is the class log, updated after every class meeting. It includes topics, assignments, announcements, Web links, etc.

Topics: The "Obligatory Contour Principle". Administrative wrap-up.

Class:

• Finish up Gnanadesikan 2004 with discussion of blocking by OCP.
• Final-exam syllabus.
• Schedule review.
• Course evaluations.

Topics: Featural autosegments in Optimality Theory.

Class:

• HW 7 (Chaha labialization)
• More Gnanadesikan 2004: Coalescence of segments.

Topics: TETU in yet another context. Typology of infixing reduplication.

Class:

• In-class problem: Infixing reduplication (McC)
• Review laryngeal features from G&J Ch. 5
• In-class problem (abbreviated): Sanskrit aspiration (McC)

• HW 7 on Chaha labialization.
• Read rest of Gnanadesikan 2004 (with new reading guide).

Topics: Factorial typology and emergence of the unmarked.

Class:

• Discuss Gnanadesikan 2004, Sections 1-4
• TETU in a different context: Tagalog infixation problem.

Topics: Segmental phonology: Contrast, neutralization, and allophony. Factorial typology.

Class:

• Kongo palatalization problem (McC "Allophony" handout)
• In-class problem: Typology of contrast in nasalization (McC)

• Read Gnanadesikan (2004) article (on Blackboard).

Topics: Factorial typology.

Class:

• Go over HW 6 on the factorial typology of syllables and syllabification.
• In-class problem: What syllable types are implied by [VC]?
• Actual typology of syllable types (Blevins 1995).

Topics: Universality of constraints. Syllable-structure constraints.

Class:

• In-class problem: English syllabification (McC).
• Discussion of English syllabification problem; comparision with Negev Bedouin Arabic.
• Two more "little exercises" (McC).
• Start HW 6.

MIDTERM 2

Topics: Basic OT technology: Tableaus and ranking arguments. Writing up an OT analysis.

Class:

• Summary of the Negev Bedouin Arabic problem set from last time
• "Little exercises" on validity of ranking arguments (McC)

Topics: Faithfulness constraints. Ranking arguments and summary tableaus.

Class:

• Discuss HW 5, correspondence constraints for Tibetan.
• Ranking arguments and summary tableaus.
• In-class problem: Negev Bedouin Arabic (McCarthy 1999).
• Midterm syllabus for MT 2 (one week from today).

Topics: Constraints and ranking.

Class:

• Discuss HW 4 (Jola Fonyi) and the issues it presents

Topics: Candidates, constraints, and repairs.

Class:

• In-class problem: Tibetan Numerals (Halle & Clements 1983).

• HW 4 (Jola-Fonyi syllable structure and consonant alternations, McCarthy 1999).

Topics: Syllables and syllabification.

Class:

• Finish ``Syllables and syllabification'' handout.
• In-class problem: Cairene Arabic emphasis spread.
• ``Persistent application'' of syllabification rules
• In-class problem: Cairene Arabic epenthesis.

Topics: The Place tier. Begin syllables.

Class:

• Solution to the problem of place assimilation using hierarchical tiers.
• In-class problem: English aspiration.
• Handout: ``Syllables and syllabification''

Topics: Feature Geometry.

Class:

• Finish up Margi example from last time (tone/devocalization ex.).
• Handout on "Feature Geometry"
  • Tone spreading (Margi)
  • Segmental feature spreading (N. Salentino Italian metaphony, Sundanese nasal spreading)

Topics: Tone as an example of non-linear representation.

Class:

• In-class problem on Sanga "secret langugages" Kinshingelo and Kisela (J. McCarthy).
• Tone-segment independence.
• Tones and segments in an ordinary language: Margi (Kenstowicz 1994).

Topics: Midterm 1

Assignment: Read Gussenhoven & Jacobs Ch. 9 on tone for Monday the 25th.

Topics: Rule ordering.

Class:

• Go over HW 3 (Catalan).
• Questions re MT 1 syllabus?

Topics: Rules and rule ordering.

Class:

• Go over Problem 2 from HW 2.
• In-class problem: Northern Salentino Italian metaphony (on Blackboard).
• Writing up the Northern Salentino problem (on Blackboard).
• In-class problem: Polish [u]/[o] alternation (on Blackboard).
• Midterm syllabus (on Blackboard).
• Preview of HW 3.

• Look over midterm syllabus; come prepared with questions.
• Do HW 3 (Catalan adjectives) (on Blackboard).

Topics: Features and rules.

Class:

• Go over HW 2 (final consonants in Br. Eng. V:CC#, n-ary place)
• Discussion of Gussenhoven & Jacobs 6.1-6.4.
• Application to HW 1 (Inuktitut vowel allophony).
• In-class problem: Ossetic aspiration (Odden 2003).

• Do-over of Problem #2 of HW 2.
• Read rest of G&J Ch. 6; come prepared to discuss in-text problems.

Topics: Distinctive-feature theory. Place features.

Class:

• Finish in-class problems from last time.
• Discuss G&J definitions of place features.
• Do exx. from G&J pp. 82-83.

• Do HW 2. (If you want to word-process your HW, you can download free phonetic fonts here (SIL International)).
• Read G&J Ch. 6, Sections 1-4.

Topics: Distinctive-feature theory. Major class features, manner features, laryngeal features.

Class:

• Goals of distinctive-feature theory.
  • Natural classes.
  • Inventory.
  • Phonetic definition.
• Discuss G&J definitions.
• In-class problem: "Feature Questions".

• Read rest of Gussenhoven & Jacobs 1998, Ch. 5
• Think about the in-text examples--we will discuss them on Wednesday.

Topics: HW 1. Natural classes. Abstractness of underlying representations.

Class:

• Go over HW 1 (Inuktitut vowels).
• In-class problem: Tohono 'o'odham affricates, illustrating the recurrence of a natural class.
• In-class problem: Palauan nouns, illustrating abstractness of URs.

• Read McCarthy 2001 article on distinctive features (on Blackboard).
• Read Gussenhoven & Jacobs 1998 Ch.5, Sections 1-4 (on Blackboard).

Topics: Phonological modelling. Deciding between competing analyses.

Class:

• Summary: The Dutch plural example (from last time). (Blackboard)
• Finish last time's handout on motivating phonology.
• Handout on deciding between competing analyses. In-class problem: Georgian laterals. (Blackboard)
• Summary: Georgian laterals. (Blackboard)

• HW 1 on Inuktitut vowel allophony. (Blackboard)

Topics: Motivating phonology. Predictable vs. unpredictable information; phonological grammar.

Class:

• IPA quiz (10 mins max)
• Handout on motivating phonology.
  • Predictable and unpredictable information
  • In-class problem: Dutch plurals (Gussenhoven & Jacobs 1998)

Topics: Phonetics review: Consonants, articulation and IPA.

Class:

• Go over
  • Handout on describing and transcribing consonant articulations.
  • Handout (not on web) of annotated IPA chart.
• Mirror and linguini techniques for observing your articulators.
• Talking IPA chart for consonants and vowels (P. Ladefoged).
• Listening examples of a wide variety of consonants in natural language (P. Ladefoged).

Assignment for Wednesday, Jan. 23:

• Read Kenstowicz & Kisseberth 1979, Ch. 2 (on Blackboard)
• Prepare for IPA quiz on Wednesday the 23rd.

Topics: Phonetics review: Vowels, their articulation and IPA symbols.

Class:

• Quiz on VT anatomy.
• Importance of phonetics when you're doing phonology.
• Vowel production.
• Articulatory parameters of vowels: Rounding, height, and backness.
  • Mirror and linguini techniques for observing your articulators.
  • Observing Didier Demolin's vowel articulations (P. Ladefoged)
  • Talking IPA chart (P. Ladefoged). Note error in "baby gamma", which mistakenly links to the "open-o" sound file.
• Handout on vowel symbols as used in this class.
  • Warning: Some of the material we will read uses non-IPA transcriptions. This should not confuse you! Here is a web page explaining the differences between IPA and Americanist vowel symbols (K. Russell).
  • Note that "hooktop a" is almost always used to mean a low central vowel, not low front.

Topics: Course organization. What is phonology? Review of vocal-tract anatomy.

Class:

• Go over syllabus.
• UNC Honor Code.
• What is phonology? (Handout)
• Begin review of articulatory phonetics
  • Review of vocal-tract anatomy (Handout).
  • Larynx atop trachea
  • Larynx in throat and an explanation of phonation
  • Phonation in slow motion (Ladefoged)

• Learn these parts of the vocal tract. You only need to learn the names of the organs. You do not need to follow any links from this page. There will be an in-class quiz on Monday, which will count as a homework assignment.
• Bring a hand mirror to class both days next week.