ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to some basic concepts in phonetics and phonology, which enables us to understand the sound systems of languages. Starting with a description of the speech mechanism involved in the production of sounds, it then traces the history of phonology from classical phonemics to generative phonology (rule-based and constraint-based).
The phonemic inventories of select Indian languages are established using discovery procedures of complementary vs. contrastive distribution. The notion of distinctive features, underlying and surface representations, rules, and rule ordering are introduced with data from select Indian languages.
After establishing the phonemes of a language, the other levels of the prosodic hierarchy, namely, the syllable, foot, and prosodic word, are explored. Indian languages that have lexical tones are also mentioned. A brief introduction to metrical and autosegmental phonology follows. The chapter concludes with an introduction to Optimality Theory, which is a constraint-based approach to phonological changes.
Phonological problems are provided after every section, and the answers to these problems are given at the end of the chapter.
