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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Linguistics Studies

Complemetary Distribution

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I have this problem where I have been given three sounds, two of which I have found to be separate phonemes. However both of these sounds are in complimentary distribution with the third sound when found in the environment: __V. How do I decide which one of the two phonemes is more likely to be allophone with the third sound.

This is the distribution table I have drawn up:
Note: [x] and [?] are the phonemes.




?

i

?

a

u

o

[x]

?

?

-

?

-

-

[?]

?

?

?

?

-

-

[?]

-

-

-

-

?

?


Is it plausible for me to say the [?] and [?] are allophones of the sound [?] purely based on the fact that there is more evidence for it in the given data?

Thanks for any help you can give me!
  

Top answer

Having separate phonemes in complementary distribution is not a problem unless the sounds are also both phonetically similar and congruently patterned.

— Anonymous

  • Having separate phonemes in complementary distribution is not a problem unless the sounds are also both phonetically similar and congruently patterned.
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1 Answers
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Having separate phonemes in complementary distribution is not a problem unless the sounds are also both phonetically similar and
congruently patterned.
0

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