모음체계의 음운적 유형과 이론에 대한 소고
Typology of vowel systems and phonological explanation
이주희 (Lee, Juhee) (Kyung Hee University, Associate Professor)
Abstract
In the literature, theories such as quantal theory, markedness theory and dispersion
theory have been proposed to account for vowel inventory typology (Stevens 1972,
1989; Lang and Ohala 1996; Schwartz et al. 1997; Vallée et al. 2002; Flemming
1995 and many others). However, following evolutionary phonology (Blevins 2004),
Vaux and Samuels (2015) argue that none of these previous theories can successfully
account for the inventory of vowel systems. In the present paper, however,
Flemming’s (1995) dispersion account of vowel systems is prioritized over previous
analyses of the vowel system in various languages. The central idea of dispersion
theory is to explain sound patterns in terms of the interaction between conflicting
functional constraints on the maximization of perceptual contrast and the
minimization of articulatory effort. Following dispersion theory, the typological
patterns found in vowel systems and the existence of unnatural systems in the
world’s languages are both found to be the most accountable.
Keywords
vowel system, dispersion theory, optimality theory, markedness, typology