Morphophonemic Analysis

How do we figure out the rule stating whether past-tense /-d/ is pronounced as [-d], [-t], [-id]?

Step 1: Determine the environments of the allomorphs.

• Since these are all suffixes, we will write up three lists:
  • The phones that precede the allomorph [-d].
    • [z], [ai], [b], [l], [n], [v]
  • The phones that precede the allomorph [-t].
    • [k], [f], [p], [s], [sh], [theta]
  • The phones that precede the allomorph [-id].
    • [d], [t]

Step 2: For each environment, look for similarities between the sounds.

• • Write up three lists:
    • The similarities between the phones found in the previous three lists.

 

• Nothing in common.

• All voiceless.

• All oral alveolar stops.

 

Step 3: There will always be one environment where the phones share nothing in common. Choose that allomorph as the underlying morpheme.

• The allomorph “[-d]” is the underlying morpheme /-d/.
• Suppose [X] is an allomorph whose environment doesn’t have any unifying property.
• If [X] weren’t the underlying morpheme, then there would have to be some rule like:
  • “The morpheme /Y/ is pronounced as the allomorph [X] in environment Z.”
• But what would the environment Z in such a rule be?
  • The sounds in [X]’s environment don’t share anything in common.

Step 4: For the remaining allomorphs, write out the rules that would limit them to their observed environments.

• Rule of Thumb
  • If allomorph [X] is found in environment Z, the rule to write is:
    • /Y/ -> [X] / Z
    • Morpheme /Y/ is pronounced as allomorph [X] in environment Z
• The rules for [-t] and [-id]:
  • /-d/ -> [-t] / Voiceless consonants _
  • /-d/ -> [-id] / Oral alveolar stops _
  • These rules “fix” phonological problems created by suffixing /-d/.
    • Suffixation of /-d/ sometimes makes a word that can’t be pronounced.
      • “Bake” – /beik/ + /d/ = /beikd/
        • Problem: /kd/ is not a possible coda.
        • Solution: /beikt/ because /kt/ is a possible coda.
      • “Lift” – /lift/ + /d/+ = /liftd/
        • Problem: /td/ is not a possible coda.
        • Solution: See Moodle slides.
  • Morphophonemic rules often exist to “fix” phonological problems created by the morphology.
    • Sometimes, morphology makes words that violate phonotactic constraints.
    • Morphophonemic rules alter those words, making them consistent with phonotactics.
  • Sometimes, morphophonemic rules have nothing to do with phonotactics.

Image Source: Wikipedia