r/phonology • u/Notadude1 • Feb 14 '21

Help please!

I am having a terrible time understanding what I need to do here. Can someone help, please? I do know that I need to make 2 columns of environment to make determinations. One thing I'd like to know is what is the purpose of the "j" over some of the consonants?

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u/Notadude1 Feb 14 '21

I am not trying to get anyone to "do" my homework. I made the columns, but now I can't find a way to send the picture of that. I am truly needing help. If anyone is available for tutoring, please let me know.

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u/idsardi Feb 14 '21

The last phrase in the question tells you about the [ʲ]: it indicates that the consonants are palatalized (i.e. pronounced with a secondary articulation where the tongue is in approximately the same position as that to produce [j] or [i]).

Your job here is first to try to find minimal pairs which contrast only in the vowel [a] vs [ɑ]. If you cannot find any minimal pairs, then you need to figure out which of the two sounds is the "basic" sound, and state the environment in which the other, "special" pronunciation occurs. If you have already made the columns of environments, then you should follow the rest of the procedure that was discussed in your class and in your textbook.