The Sounds of Europe

• Authors: Thomas Stolz , Aina Urdze , Hitomi Otsuka
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article is meant to demonstrate not only that it is possible technically but that it also makes sense linguistically to study phonological phenomena in a pan-European perspective. To prove our point, we employ the current comparative methodology associated with the framework of typologically-inspired areal linguistics. The data are evaluated quantitatively. We focus on the classes of velar and post-velar fricatives with phoneme status. Our investigation is based empirically on data drawn from a sample of 157 contemporary varieties spoken in Europe. Our results are indicative of a non-random distribution of the above classes of phonemes. Genetic, typological and areal factors are discussed as potential explanations of the observed geo-linguistic distribution of velar and post-velar fricatives on European soil. The general conclusion we draw is that it is high time to develop a research program which is dedicated to the continent-wide in-depth study of the phonological make-up of Europe.

Keywords

EN

fricatives; phonology; typology; areal linguistics

• Publisher: Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk
• Journal: Lingua Posnaniensis
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 87-108

Dates

published

2011-01-01

online

2011-08-26

Contributors

author

Thomas Stolz

• Universität Bremen

author

Aina Urdze

• Universität Bremen

author

Hitomi Otsuka

• Universität Bremen

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10122-011-0007-4