“Overarch”

“Neutralization” is a conditioned limitation on the distribution of a language’s contrastive values.

The theses explored herein:

1. Most cases of neutralizing alternation are heterophone-maintaining, and are consequently function-neutral, in the sense that lexical semantic distinctness remains stable.
2. Only in those rare instances when a neutralizing alternation is homophone-deriving might it be function-negative, in terms of potentially rendering lexical semantic content non-distinct.
3. Indeed, neutralization is often function-positive, as it may serve as an aid to parsing the speech stream into its functional (morphemic and lexical) components.

In all, it is proposed that neutralization may proceed largely unchecked (thus increasing what I term phonological RHYME), until encountering a passive, usage-based pressure inhibiting excessive derived homophony (that is, until phonological REASON would be breached).

“Undergird”

The book considers neutralization from many different theoretical vantage points and schools of linguistic thought, from Kazan, to Prague, to London, to Boston, to Los Angeles, and beyond.

The book is divided into two parts. For the bulk of the book—RHYME—I observe, describe, and explain neutralization from many different theoretical perspectives, all the while building towards a discussion of neutralization’s minor function-negative role. The shorter second part—REASON—also surveys approaches to neutralization, but from a very different perspective, emphasizing its major function-positive role.

Throughout, special emphasis is placed on theoretical approaches that do not typically get thorough airings in today’s classrooms. My reasons for this special emphasis are at least threefold:

1. Students should have knowledge of their intellectual forebears’ scholarship. By placing a strong emphasis on scholarship that young researchers might rarely have the time or the inclination to pursue, I hope to pique their intellectual curiosity.
2. Students and others who read this volume are probably well-versed in generative (rule-based, constraint-based) approaches to the issues, and thus my delving into depth therein would be largely redundant.
3. The emphasis herein accords better with my own research interests, in particular with respect to searching for phonetic (formal) and semantic (functional) explanations for phonological patterns.

“Brick and Mortar”

This is not a book for beginners. It assumes fairly extensive exposure to phonological theory, and it challenges readers to consider unfamiliar ways—both old and new—of analyzing phonological data. I don’t hold back from presenting the “new”; less advanced readers may prefer to skip the preamble until having gotten further into the book.

Regarding the discussion questions at the end of each chapter, loosely, these come in three varieties:

1. Questions that are rather brazenly designed to lead readers towards answers consistent with the proposals advanced herein.
2. Questions that are indeed open-ended, in the sense that I am unsure how to go about answering them myself, and for which I would greatly appreciate reader feedback.
3. Questions that offer possibilities for research projects, including papers, theses, and even dissertations.

There is certainly overlap among these three categories.

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is used throughout, and always appears in bold. It is used for phonetic transcriptions, and for representing normative, typical, or (perhaps) idealized pronunciations. Neither square brackets nor virgules are ever used.

For corrections, updates, info on buying book rights for the inevitable Hollywood blockbuster (Steve baby? Marty my man?), and any other news related to the form or content of this book, please visit my website (www.seedyroad.com). You can also email me from there.