The phonological hierarchy describes a series of increasingly smaller regions of a

phonological Phonology is the branch of linguistics that studies how languages or dialects systematically organize their sounds or, for sign languages, their constituent parts of signs. The term can also refer specifically to the sound or sign system of a ...

utterance, each nested within the next highest region. Different research traditions make use of slightly different hierarchies. For instance, there is one hierarchy which is primarily used in theoretical phonology, while a similar hierarchy is used in

discourse analysis Discourse analysis (DA), or discourse studies, is an approach to the analysis of written, vocal, or sign language use, or any significant semiotic event. The objects of discourse Analysis (discourse, writing, conversation, communicative event) ...

. Both are described in the sections below.

Theoretical phonological hierarchy

Listed in order from highest to lowest are the categories of the hierarchy that are most commonly used in theoretical phonology. There is some disagreement on the arrangement and inclusion of units, especially those that reside higher in the hierarchy. For example, the clitic group is not considered to be a separate level in Selkirk's version of the hierarchy, while the minor phrase or accentual phrase are not considered to be separate from the phonological phrase in Hayes' and Nespor & Vogel's hierarchies. #

Utterance In spoken language analysis, an utterance is a continuous piece of speech, often beginning and ending with a clear pause. In the case of oral languages, it is generally, but not always, bounded by silence. Utterances do not exist in written lang ...

( U) # Intonational phrase (I-phrase, ι) also known as: #* Full intonational phrase #Phonological phrase (P-phrase, Φ), also known as: #* Major phrase #* Intermediate intonational phrase #Accentual phrase, also known as: #* Minor phrase # Clitic group ( C) #

Phonological word The phonological word or prosodic word (also called pword, PrWd; symbolised as ω) is a constituent in the phonological hierarchy higher than the syllable and the foot but lower than intonational phrase and the phonological phrase. It is larg ...

(P-word, ω), sometimes also called the prosodic word # Foot (F, φ or Σ) # Syllable ( σ) # Mora ( μ) #Segment (

phoneme In phonology and linguistics, a phoneme () is a unit of sound that can distinguish one word from another in a particular language. For example, in most dialects of English, with the notable exception of the West Midlands and the north-wes ...

) #

Feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing characteristic of a software item ...

The hierarchy from the mora upwards is technically known as the

prosodic In linguistics, prosody () is concerned with elements of speech that are not individual phonetic segments (vowels and consonants) but are properties of syllables and larger units of speech, including linguistic functions such as intonation, st ...

hierarchy.

Discourse analytical hierarchy

The phonological hierarchy as it is defined in the discourse analytical tradition is listed below. #

( υ) # Prosodic declination unit (DU) # Prosodic

intonation unit In linguistics, a prosodic unit, often called an intonation unit or intonational phrase, is a segment of speech that occurs with a single prosodic contour ( pitch and rhythm contour). The abbreviation IU is used and therefore the full form is o ...

(IU) # Prosodic list unit (LU) # Clitic group #

(P-word) # Foot # Syllable # Mora # Segment (

) #

Theoretical phonological hierarchy

Discourse analytical hierarchy

References

See also