Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure

1. Introduction to Russian phonology and word structure Ch. 3: The description of consonants

2. Group work • Quiz each other on the parameters of the table on p. 18

3. Q&A from handout • What sounds in the table do not have Russian letters?

4. Q&A from handout • What sounds in the table do not have Russian letters? • š, and ž, and ɣ and ʒ and ǯ • What role do they play?

5. Q&A from handout • 3. What sounds in the table do not have Russian letters? • š, and ž, and ɣ and ʒ and ǯ • What role do they play? • Symmetry! Note, however, that the place of articulation for š, and ž, is different than that of š and ž and these sounds are restricted to certain environments (see pp. 21-22)

6. Q&A from handout • 4. Most of the blank spaces could be filled (compare with the IPA chart). What could be there?

7. Q&A from handout • 4. Most of the blank spaces could be filled (compare with the IPA chart). What could be there? • Velar nasal, voiceless r, uvular r, ŋ, th, glottal stop…

8. Q&A from handout • 5. Note that some of the designations in the table are somewhat simplified or arbitrary. The Russian [v] is not fully an obstruent and sometimes acts like a glide, as we’ll see. Why might this be?

9. Q&A from handout • 5. Note that some of the designations in the table are somewhat simplified or arbitrary. The Russian [v] is not fully an obstruent and sometimes acts like a glide, as we’ll see. The relatively recent history of this sound helps us understand its status.

10. Q&A from handout • Discuss #6. Note the connectedness of phones in the chart. It is very real! Every phone bears a series of relationships to other phones and this affects their behavior as subgroups.

11. Q&A from handout • 7. What is the difference between palatal & palatalized?

12. Q&A from handout • 7. What is the difference between palatal & palatalized? • Palatal is a primary articulation, it describes an essential property of a sound • Palatalized is a secondary articulation, it describes an additional, not a primary articulation

13. Q&A from handout • 8. What is the issue with the palatalized labials?

14. Q&A from handout • 8. What is the issue with the palatalized labials? • There is a conflict between the primary and secondary tonality. Labials are naturally very low in tonality (like velars). Palatalization gives a heightened tonality. This is an unstable combination and can dissimilate/diphthongize, cf. Cz běžet [bježet]

15. Q&A from handout • 9. What is the vocalic version of [v]?

16. Q&A from handout • 9. What is the vocalic version of [v]? • [u]! The parallelism between [i] and [u] will become clear when we get to the vowels…

17. Q&A from handout • 10. Transcribe • дач • вял • боль • свой • рожь

18. Q&A from handout • 10. Transcribe • дач [da’č,] • вял [v,a’l] • боль [bo’ļ] • свой [svo’j] • рожь [ro’ž]

19. Q&A from handout • 11. Write the correct Russian word: • [p,a’n] • [jo’š] • [po’t] • [p,jo’t] • [la’j]

20. Q&A from handout • 11. Write the correct Russian word: • [p,a’n] пян • [jo’š] еж • [po’t] пот • [p,jo’t] пьет • [la’j] лай

21. Q&A from handout • 12. What do they have in common? • š, ž, č, j ǯ,

22. Q&A from handout • 12. What do they have in common? • š, ž, č, j ǯ, • Palatals • f s š x

23. Q&A from handout • 12. What do they have in common? • š, ž, č, j ǯ, • Palatals • f s š x • Voiceless fricatives • p b m

24. Q&A from handout • 12. What do they have in common? • š, ž, č, j ǯ, • Palatals • f s š x • Voiceless fricatives • p b m • Labials • p t k

25. Q&A from handout • 12. What do they have in common? • š, ž, č, j ǯ, • Palatals • f s š x • Voiceless fricatives • p b m • Labials • p t k • Voiceless stops

26. A couple of last notes... • It is very important to remember that Russian, unlike English, lacks aspiration! Can you pronounce unaspirated voiceless stops accurately??? • Note that Russian [t] and [d] are true dentals, unlike English t and d. Russians can hear the difference! Can you???? • Getting these two things right will do a LOT to reduce your foreign accent!