ABSTRACT
The collective environments of all established features. In American distributionalism (see Harris 1954), distribution is the primary criterion for determining and classifying linguistic units. On the basis of propositional logic and set theory the following types of distribution can be distinguished. (a) Equivalent distribution: two elements occur in the same environment either in (i) free variation (=free alternation or corr elation) without distinguishing meaning, e.g. in the alternation of [i:] and [ay] in either; or in (ii) contrastive distribution, i.e. functioning as distinguishers of meaning, e.g. initial /g/, /k/, /t/ game, came, tame ( minimal pair). (b) Partially equivalent distribution: two elements occur largely, but not exclusively, in the same environment, in which either (i) the distribution of the one element includes that of the other, e.g. the distribution of the velar plosives /k/ and /g/ includes that of the velar nasal /ŋ/ since the first two occur word-medially and word-finally, while the last one does not occur word-initially; or (ii) the distribution of two elements overlaps (also: partially complementary), /h/ and /ŋ/, both of which occur word-medially (inherent, angle), while only /h/ occurs word-initially (heart) and only /ŋ/ occurs word-finally (song). (c) Complementary distribution: two elements never occur in the same environment, e.g. [t] and [th] are said to be in a relation of complementary distribution since the latter does not occur after word-initial /s/. Distribution is used to determine and define different basic linguistic elements: equivalent distribution uncovers phonemes functioning as distinguishers of meaning, while complementary distribution uncovers allophones and allomorphs, among others.
