Skip to content
Scan a barcode
Scan
Paperback Markedness: Reduction and Preservation in Phonology Book

ISBN: 0521142237

ISBN13: 9780521142236

Markedness: Reduction and Preservation in Phonology

(Part of the Cambridge Studies in Linguistics Series)

Select Format

Select Condition ThriftBooks Help Icon

Recommended

Format: Paperback

Condition: New

$51.99
50 Available
Ships within 2-3 days

Book Overview

'Markedness' refers to the tendency of languages to show a preference for particular structures or sounds. This bias towards 'marked' elements is consistent within and across languages, and tells us a great deal about what languages can and cannot do. This pioneering study presents a groundbreaking theory of markedness in phonology. De Lacy argues that markedness is part of our linguistic competence, and is determined by three conflicting mechanisms in the brain: (a) pressure to preserve marked sounds ('preservation'), (b) pressure to turn marked sounds into unmarked sounds ('reduction'), and (c) a mechanism allowing the distinction between marked and unmarked sounds to be collapsed ('conflation'). He shows that due to these mechanisms, markedness occurs only when preservation is irrelevant. Drawing on examples of phenomena such as epenthesis, neutralisation, assimilation, vowel reduction and sonority-driven stress, Markedness offers an important insight into this essential concept in the understanding of human language.

Related Subjects

Language Arts

Customer Reviews

0 rating
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
GoDaddy Verified and Secured
Timestamp: 7/18/2025 10:56:54 PM
Server Address: 10.20.32.147