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end of an approximant are difficult to demarcate acoustically. However, there are
instances where the distinction between the two types of secondary articulation is
contrastive. For example, in Russian there is a contrast between s’est’ [IAIJ] ‘sit down’,
in which palatalization occurs simultaneously with s, and syest’ [IAIJ] ‘eat up’, in which
a palatal glide follows the s in a consonant-glide cluster. Note that the s is palatalized as a
result of the following glide. However, if there is a syllable boundary between a
consonant and an ensuing palatal glide, then the consonant is not palatalized. For
example, ot’éc [=JAJI] ‘father’ vs. otjéxat’ [=JAN=J] ‘to go away riding’ (Bill Darden,
per. comm.).
The terms labialization and palatalization have been used to refer to both phonetic
and phonological phenomena. In the phonetic usage, they describe certain types of
secondary articulations, as discussed above. Labialization refers to the addition of a lip
rounding gesture (Ladefoged & Maddieson note that in most cases, there is an
accompanying raising of the back of the tongue as well), and palatalization refers to the
addition of a high front tongue position (i.e. [i]). For example, Russian contrasts the
presence and absence of palatalization on certain segments: [HB] ‘roof’ vs. [HB]
‘blood’ (Ladefoged 1982: 210). Pohnpeian contrasts the presence or absence of
labialization on certain segments: [=F] ‘bundle’ [=F9] ‘new’ (Ladefoged & Maddieson,
p. 360)
The other use of the terms concerns phonological alternations in which the
primary articulation itself is modified. For example, English I is said to be “palatalized”
when it becomes 5, such as in the change from press to pressure. Also, the phoneme k is
said to be “palatalized” in English when it precedes a front vowel, as in [0E] ‘key’
versus [0)] ‘car’.
When I use the terms labialization, palatalization, and secondary articulation in
discussing Mono, I am referring specifically to the presence of lip rounding or front
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