Scribd
Upload
732 views1 page

Distinctive Features in English Phonology

This document presents distinctive feature matrices for English consonants and vowels. The consonant chart shows features such as sonorant, continuant, strident, nasal, lateral, place of articulation and voice. The vowel chart shows features like high, low, place of articulation and advanced tongue root. Both charts are used to distinguish phonemes in English and omit unnecessary distinguishing features.

Uploaded by

Oana Motohoi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
732 views1 page

Distinctive Features in English Phonology

This document presents distinctive feature matrices for English consonants and vowels. The consonant chart shows features such as sonorant, continuant, strident, nasal, lateral, place of articulation and voice. The vowel chart shows features like high, low, place of articulation and advanced tongue root. Both charts are used to distinguish phonemes in English and omit unnecessary distinguishing features.

Uploaded by

Oana Motohoi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Distinctive Features of English

Distinctive features

p b t d k g f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h m n ŋ l r w j

[sonorant] – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – + + + + + + +
[continuant – – – – – – + + + + + + + + + – – – + + + +
]
[strident] + + – – + + + + –
[nasal] – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – + + + – – – –
[lateral] + –
Place L L C C D D L L C C C C C C G L C D C C L C
[anterior] + + + + + + – – + + + –
[voice] – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + + + + + + +
Table 1. Distinctive feature matrix for English consonants
Remarks
1. The affricates /ʧ/ and /ʤ/ are not included. Affricates have the feature
specifications [−cont, +cont].
2. Abbreviations used: L = LABIAL; C = CORONAL; D = DORSAL; G = GUTTURAL.
3. Features which are not necessary for making phonemic distinctions in English are
not included.

ɪ i: ε æ ə ɜ: ʌ ʊ u: ɔ: ɒ ɑ:

[high] + + – – – – – + + – – –
[low] – – – + – – + – – – – +
Place C C C C D D D D D D D D
L L L L
[ATR] – + – – – + – – + + – +
Table 2. Distinctive feature matrix for English vowels

Remarks
1. Abbreviations used: L = LABIAL; C = CORONAL; D = DORSAL.
2. Features which are not necessary for making phonemic distinctions in English are
not included.

Distinctive features p b t d k g f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h m n ŋ l r w j [sonorant] – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – + + + + + + + [cont

You might also like