DLAB Phonetic Pattern Recognition Flashcards

A language has three nasal consonants: /m/ (bilabial), /n/ (alveolar), /ŋ/ (velar). Each matches a place of articulation with a voiceless stop: /p/, /t/, /k/. What pattern does this show?

Answer: Symmetry in the consonant system (each place has both a stop and nasal)

The consonant inventory shows systematic symmetry: bilabial (/p/-/m/), alveolar (/t/-/n/), velar (/k/-/ŋ/). Each place of articulation has both a voiceless stop and a nasal. This balanced inventory is typologically common and reflects natural phonological organization.

In English, 'cats' ends in [s] but 'dogs' ends in [z]. What determines whether the plural is voiceless [s] or voiced [z]?

Answer: The voicing of the final consonant of the stem

'Cat' ends in voiceless [t], triggering voiceless [s]. 'Dog' ends in voiced [g], triggering voiced [z]. The plural suffix assimilates the voicing of the preceding consonant. This is a productive voicing assimilation rule in English morphophonology.

A language has the rule: /n/ becomes [ŋ] before /k/ and /g/. 'Anka' is pronounced [aŋka]. What type of rule is this?

Answer: A nasal place assimilation rule

The alveolar nasal /n/ assimilates to the velar place of the following /k/, becoming velar [ŋ]. This nasal place assimilation rule ensures the nasal consonant matches the place of articulation of the following stop. English follows the same rule: 'think' has [ŋk].

In a language, stressed syllables are louder, longer, and higher-pitched than unstressed syllables. Which type of stress system does this describe?

Answer: Dynamic stress (multiple acoustic correlates)

When stress involves multiple acoustic properties simultaneously — increased loudness (intensity), duration (length), and fundamental frequency (pitch) — it is a dynamic stress system. English, Russian, and Arabic are dynamic stress languages, unlike pure pitch accent systems.

A language has two series of stops: plain /p, t, k/ and ejective /p', t', k'/. What articulatory difference produces ejectives?

Answer: Glottal compression creating increased air pressure

Ejectives are produced by closing the glottis and raising the larynx, compressing the air above it. When the oral closure releases, the compressed air creates a sharp popping sound. Ejectives are common in languages of the Caucasus, Ethiopia, and the Americas.

In a language, the vowel /i/ causes the preceding consonant /s/ to become /ʃ/ (like 'sh'): 'sima' → [ʃima]. What phonological process is this?

Answer: Palatalization (consonant moves toward palatal position due to /i/)

The high front vowel /i/ causes /s/ (alveolar) to shift to /ʃ/ (palato-alveolar), moving the consonant's place of articulation toward the palate. This is palatalization — one of the most common historical and synchronic sound changes in world languages.