In
theoretical linguistics, underspecification is a phenomenon in which certain
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 ...
s are omitted in
underlying representation
In some models of phonology as well as morphophonology in the field of linguistics, the underlying representation (UR) or underlying form (UF) of a word or morpheme is the abstract form that a word or morpheme is postulated to have before any phono ...
s. Restricted underspecification theory holds that features should only be underspecified if their values are predictable. For example, in most dialects of
English, all
front vowels () are
unrounded
In phonetics, vowel roundedness is the amount of rounding in the lips during the articulation of a vowel. It is labialization of a vowel. When a ''rounded'' vowel is pronounced, the lips form a circular opening, and ''unrounded'' vowels are pro ...
. It is not necessary for these
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-west ...
s to include the
distinctive feature
In linguistics, a distinctive feature is the most basic unit of phonological structure that distinguishes one sound from another within a language. For example, the feature oicedistinguishes the two bilabial plosives: and There are many diffe ...
��round because all
��backvowels are
��roundvowels, so the roundness feature is not distinctive for front vowels. Radical underspecification theory, on the other hand, also allows for traditionally binary features to be specified for only one value, where it is assumed that every segment not specified for that value has the other value. For example, instead of the features
voiceand
��voice only
voiceis specified and voicelessness is taken as the default.
The concept of underspecification is also used in morphological theory, particularly to refer to cases in which a morpheme does not bear an entire set of feature-values, and is thus compatible with a wide range of potential morphological environments. In this approach to morphology, for example, while the English pronouns ''he'' vs. ''she'' are specified for gender, the plural pronoun ''they'' would be underspecified for gender.
Example of underspecification in phonology
In
Tuvan, phonemic vowels are specified with the articulatory features of tongue height, backness, and lip rounding. The
archiphoneme
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-west ...
/I/ is an underspecified high vowel where only the tongue height is specified.
:
Whether /I/ is pronounced as front or back and whether rounded or unrounded depends on
vowel harmony. If /I/ occurs following a front unrounded vowel, it will be pronounced as the phoneme ; if /I/ occurs following a front rounded vowel, it is pronounced as ; if following a back unrounded vowel, it will be as an ; and if following a back rounded vowel, it will be an . This can be seen in the following words:
:
Underspecification in morphology
Underspecification in
morphology
Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to:
Disciplines
*Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts
*Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...
uses feature decomposition to create abstract, binary features that allow for the creation of
natural classes in relation to morphology.
In
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
, there are three classes of gender. These are
feminine,
masculine
Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some behaviors co ...
, and
neuter.
From this breakdown of German gender features, underspecification theory derives the following definitions of gender using a cross classification of the gender features
�mascand
�fem
In the underspecification theory, the
dative singular marker ''-em'' is characterized by an underspecified gender marking (
fem.
This would allow for a single morphological exponent to be referred to by one set of underspecified features. Take for example, the determiner ''dem'', which can occur in masculine and neuter contexts in the dative singular. By allowing the underspecification of the feminine feature, ''dem'' is free to appear in both the masculine and neuter contexts, but not the feminine context. This contrasts the traditional view, in which there are two separate but homophonous forms of ''dem'', in which ''dem
1'' contains the full gender specification
fem, +mascand ''dem
2'' contains the full gender specification
fem, - masc
See also
*
Bibliography
*
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References
{{Reflist
Grammar
Structuralism
nl:Onderspecificatie