The Message Shapes Phonology

Abstract

Based on a diverse and complementary set of theoretical and empirical findings, we describe an approach to phonology in which sound patterns are shaped by the trade-off between biases supporting message transmission accuracy and resource cost. We refer to this approach as Message-Oriented Phonology. The evidence suggests that these biases influence the form of messages, defined with reference to a language's morphemes, words or higher levels of meaning, rather than influencing phonological categories directly. Integrating concepts from information theory and Bayesian inference with the existing body of phonological research, we propose a testable model of phonology that makes quantitative predictions. Moreover, we show that approaching language as a system of message transfer provides greater explanatory coverage of a diverse range of sound patterns.

Physical and phonological causes of coda /t/ glottalization in the mainstream American English of central Ohio

“…However, they assume that the listener's goal is to identify phonological forms (segments, gestures, or features) rather than meaning (social, lexical, propositional, or other). Phonological information such as stop voicing or closure is useful to the listener, but only insofar as those things participate in the communication of meaning (Hall, Hume, Jaeger, & Wedel, 2016. A word-final /t/ carries very little information about lexical meaning in American English (Cohen Priva, 2008;.…”