What is contrast in analogous environments?

Contrast in analogous environments is the difference between two phonetically similar segments that occur in two separate words and have similar adjacent sounds.

If neither segment has been modified or affected by its environment, the segments are separate phonemes.

The segments [p] and [b] contrast in analogous environments in the following words:

• [opa] 'it is finished'
• [aba] 'place'

The implication is that /p/ and /b/ are separate phonemes.

• What is contrast in identical environments?

Context for this page:

• Concept module: contrast in analogous environments
• In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): C
• In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
• In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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