15.303, Qs: Syllable Codas; Mandarin Stops/Aspiration

[LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List:  Vol-15-303. Tue Jan 27 2004. ISSN: 1068-4875.

Subject: 15.303, Qs: Syllable Codas; Mandarin Stops/Aspiration

Moderators: Anthony Aristar, Wayne State U.<aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Dry, Eastern Michigan U. <hdry at linguistlist.org>

Reviews (reviews at linguistlist.org):
	Sheila Collberg, U. of Arizona
	Terence Langendoen, U. of Arizona

Home Page:  http://linguistlist.org/

The LINGUIST List is funded by Eastern Michigan University, Wayne
State University, and donations from subscribers and publishers.

Editor for this issue: Naomi Fox <fox at linguistlist.org>
 ==========================================================================
We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually
best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is
then strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list. This policy was
instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we
would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate.

In addition to posting a summary, we'd like to remind people that it
is usually a good idea to personally thank those individuals who have
taken the trouble to respond to the query.

To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at
http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.html.

=================================Directory=================================

1)
Date:  Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:27:38 -0500 (EST)
From:  Laurie Woods <lgw202 at nyu.edu>
Subject:  Phonology

2)
Date:  Tue, 27 Jan 2004 08:00:03 -0500 (EST)
From:  "Carol L. Tenny" <tenny at linguist.org>
Subject:  Question: stops in Mandarin

-------------------------------- Message 1 -------------------------------

Date:  Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:27:38 -0500 (EST)
From:  Laurie Woods <lgw202 at nyu.edu>
Subject:  Phonology

I am compiling a list of phonological conditions on syllable codas in
the languages of the world, such as the condition in the Australian
language Lardil (and also in Finnish) that only coronal consonants can
appear in syllable codas.  I would appreciate help in this endeavor.
Please send me information about languages that have particular
restrictions on syllable codas.  Many thanks, Laurie Woods


-------------------------------- Message 2 -------------------------------

Date:  Tue, 27 Jan 2004 08:00:03 -0500 (EST)
From:  "Carol L. Tenny" <tenny at linguist.org>
Subject:  Question: stops in Mandarin


According to Campbell's 'Compendium of World's Languages', Mandarin has
the PHONEMES /p,t,k,b,d,g/. However, /b,d,g/ are actually PHONETICALLY
UNVOICED.
Furthermore /b,d,g/ are unaspirated and /p,t,k/ are aspirated.
This means there actually is a contrast between a PRONOUNCED aspirated and
unaspirated [p,t,k].


What does it mean to have voiced phonemes that are always(?) phonetically
unvoiced, and more importantly, how can I make my Mandarin speakers in my
class understand this?

I was actually trying to show them that aspiration was contrastive in
Mandarin, but they balked because of the /p,b/ problem. Can I show them
contrastive aspiration in another way?

Does this also exist in Shanghai or Cantonese? I also have speakers of
these dialects.

Thank you for any help with extricating me and my class from this confusion.

Carol Tenny

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-15-303