Glossary: morphology and phonology

Semivowels (or glides) are the consonantal realizations of vowels. Only the high vowels (i, u and sometimes y) can be realized as semivowels, i.e. as j, w and h. Many languages show productive alternations between i and j, u and w, i.e. when the vowel /i/ occurs outside the nucleus of the syllable (e.g. because of morphology), it is relaised as /j/.

A vowel of relatively short duration when compared to a vowel of similar or identical quality in the same vowel system.

A speech sound in which there is high-amplitude, turbulent noise, as in English [ s ] and [ ∫ ] in sip and ship.

A word that is not morphologically complex, i.e., one that has not been formed by any process such as affixation, ablaut, etc.

A waveform with a simple shapeand a single constant frequency and constant amplitude.

See number.

The soft, movable part of the palate at the back of the mouth.

The natural class of nasals, liquids and glides (including taps, flaps, trills, approximants). Sonorants are usually voiced, and are thus the opposite of obstruents.

The loudness of a sound relative to that of other sounds with the same length, stress, and pitch.