Backwards Phonology

Citation

Bear, J. (1990). Backwards phonology. In COLING 1990 Volume 3: Papers presented to the 13th International Conference on Computational Linguistics.

Abstract

This paper constitutes an investigation into the generative capabilities of two-level phonology with respect to unilevel generative phonological rules. Proponents of two-level phonology have claimed, but not demonstrated, that two-level rules and grammars of two-level rules are reversible and that grammars of unilevel rules are not. This paper makes “reversibility” explicit and demonstrates by means of examples from Tunica and Klamath that two-level phonology does have certain desirable capabilities that are not found in grammars of unilevel rules.


Read more from SRI

  • Banner and attendees at the IEEE Hard Tech Venture Summit

    Cultivating hard tech startups that scale

    IEEE’s Hard Tech Venture Summit convened innovators at SRI to refine strategies and build new networks.

  • Patient going into a MRI

    Bringing surgical tools inside the MRI

    Drawing on SRI’s unique innovation ecosystem, the startup Medical Devices Corner is seeking to improve cancer surgery by advancing MRI-safe teleoperation.

  • Christopher Mims and Susan Patrick

    PARC Forum: How to AI

    The Wall Street Journal tech columnist Christopher Mims and SRI Education’s Susan Patrick discuss how AI can strengthen human agency.