Gradient phonotactics and frequency: A study of German initial clusters
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[1] Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań
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- Localización: Italian journal of linguistics, ISSN 1120-2726, Vol. 34, Nº. 1, 2022, págs. 103-138
- Idioma: italiano
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Resumen
This paper investigates gradient markedness of word-initial consonant clusters in present-day Standard German. Markedness is determined on the basis of a phonotactic principle referred to as Net Auditory Distance. This study expands on previous analyses involving the principle by investigating which wellformedness indices implemented in the principle account best for corpus-based frequencies of consonant clusters. These indices encompass auditory distances pertaining to the manner of articulation, place of articulation and the sonorant/ obstruent distinction. Linear regression modelling involving several types of distances as independent variables has revealed a positive correlation between type frequency and only one of the indices. More specifically, type frequency increases with an increase in the sonority distance between two adjacent consonants within a cluster. This finding suggests that a well-defined distribution of sonority distances constitutes a relevant phonotactic primitive and motivates the core structure of clusters available in German.
