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Re: Tit'xka (Pretty Long Post)

From:Tom Wier <artabanos@...>
Date:Wednesday, December 30, 1998, 22:19
Sheets, Jeff wrote:

> > Sheets, Jeff wrote: > > > Given your description of k in kill =3D /k_h/, I just can't > > > see why it isn't /k/. If you could explain the difference for me, =
I
> > would > > > be appreciative. > > > > The /k/ in _kill_ is [k_h], while the /k/ in _skill_ is [k]. The > > difference is that [k_h] is followed by a small puff of air, while [k=
]
> > is not. I.e., the vocal cords turn on immediately after the [k] is > > released in _skill_, but not in _kill_. If you still can't tell, put > > your hand in front of your mouth and say those two words, you should > > feel a puff of air on your hand with _kill_, but not with _skill_. > > > In extreme laymans terms when should I differentiate between // and [] =
? I
> never got that either. Thanks for the help, though, I understand the > difference now. :)
Well, basically, solidi ("//") are used when you're talking about the ph= onemic situation of a language, and so saying e.g. /k/ in English could refer to= any of several phonetic realizations that it might take: /k/ might be, phonetic= ally, an aspirated [k_h], an unreleased [k,], or plain unaspirated [k]. But w= hen you're talking about what the speakers actually perceive, none of these b= racketed values make any difference in English (hence the distinction in the first= place). Sorry if we go a little overboard with technicalities here, but since so = many of us are trained linguists, we often forget that not everyone in the group has the same background. Please feel free to ask whenever you don't get = something (as you have been). :) =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Tom Wier <twier@...> ICQ#: 4315704 AIM: Deuterotom Website: <http://www.angelfire.com/tx/eclectorium/> "Cogito ergo sum, sed credo ergo ero." "S=F4=F0 is gecy=FEed / =FE=E6t mihtig God manna cynes / w=EAold w=EEde-ferh=F0." _Beowulf_, ll. 700-702 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D