ASL Phonology

Introductory Exercise: Minimal Pairs, Features and Phonemes

I. English

Consider these forms:

• pin
• bin
• bid

1. Transcribe the forms phonetically. The first one is shown as an example.

pin
bin
bid

2. Fill in the feature matrices for bin and bid. pin is shown as an example.

3. What are the two minimal pairs?

a. _________________________ and _________________________

b. _________________________ and _________________________

4. What are the distinctive features that distinguish the two words in each minimal pair?

minimal pair a: _________________________

minimal pair b: _________________________

5. There are exactly 5 segments (four consonants and a vowel) used in the three words. List them below.

__________ __________ __________ __________ __________

6. Based on the evidence from the minimal pairs, circle the segments that are phonemes.

II. American Sign Language

Based on what you know about Stokoe's analysis of signs, answer the following questions about ASL signs.

Consider these forms:

1. Fill in the feature matrices for KNOW and ME. THINK is shown as an example.

2. What are the two minimal pairs?

a. _________________________ and _________________________

b. _________________________ and _________________________

3. What is the distinctive feature that distinguishes the two signs in each minimal pair?

minimal pair a: _________________________

minimal pair b: _________________________

4. Think about the terms word, sign, phoneme, feature. Give an example for each of these for English and for ASL:

5. What would you say is an important difference between the phonology of ASL and the phonology of English, according to this analysis?

Answers