The contrastive hierarchy in phonology 2009 Dresher.pdf - CUNY ...

(2.27) Maranungku, features [high], [low], [back]
a. Full specifications
i Q A ´ U
high + – – – +
low – + + – –
back – – + + +
b. Specifications according to the pairwise method
i Q A ´ U Minimal pairs
high – + {´, U}
low + – {A, ´}
back – – + + {i, U}; {Q, A}
In this vowel system, /i/ and /æ/ have the same contrastive specification
because they occupy parallel positions in a [back] contrast, but have no other
neighbours that could further differentiate them in terms of the pairwise method.
This situation is represented graphically in the diagram in (2.28).
(2.28) Maranungku, features [high], [low], [back]
U • • i
[–low]
´ • ° inner nodes: [–high]
[+back]
[–back]
A • • Q outer nodes: [+high]
[+low]
x x
Now, if it were the case that Maranungku represented a relatively rare
situation, one could argue that such examples are not serious problems for the
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