Measuring phonological distance between languages
Three independent approaches to measuring cross-language phonological distance are pursued in this thesis: exploiting phonological typological parameters; measuring the cross-entropy of phonologically transcribed texts; and measuring the phonetic similarity of non-word nativisations by speakers from different language backgrounds. Firstly, a set of freely accessible online tools are presented to aid in establishing parametric values for syllable structure and phoneme inventory in different languages. The tools allow researchers to make differing analytical and observational choices and compare the results. These tools are applied to 16 languages, and correspondence between the resulting parameter values is used as a measure of phonological distance. Secondly, the computational technique of cross-entropy measurement is applied to texts from seven languages, transcribed in four different ways: a phonemic IPA transcription; with Elements; and with two sets of binary distinctive features in the SPE tradition. This technique results in consistently replicable rankings of phonological similarity for each transcription system. It is sensitive to differences in transcription systems. It can be used to probe the consequences
Eden, S. Elizabeth
Measuring phonological distance between languages. Three independent approaches to measuring cross-language phonological distance are pursued in this thesis: exploiting phonological typological parameters; measuring the cross-entropy of phonologically transcribed texts; and measuring the phonetic similarity of non-word nativisations by speakers from different language backgrounds. Firstly, a set of freely accessible online tools are presented to aid in establishing parametric values for syllable structure and phoneme inventory in different languages. The tools allow researchers to make differing analytical and observational choices and compare the results. These tools are applied to 16 languages, and correspondence between the resulting parameter values is used as a measure of phonological distance. Secondly, the computational technique of cross-entropy measurement is applied to texts from seven languages, transcribed in four different ways: a phonemic IPA transcription; with Elements; and with two sets of binary distinctive features in the SPE tradition. This technique results in consistently replicable rankings of phonological similarity for each transcription system. It is sensitive to differences in transcription systems. It can be used to probe the consequences
measuring phonological distance language independent approach measure cross language phonological distance pursue exploit phonological typological parameter measure cross phonologically transcribed text measure phonetic similarity non word speaker different_language background firstly set freely accessible online tool present aid establish parametric value syllable_structure phoneme inventory different_language tool allow researcher make differ analytical observational choice compare result tool apply language correspondence result parameter value use measure phonological distance secondly computational technique cross measurement apply texts language transcribe four_different way phonemic transcription elements two_set binary distinctive_feature tradition technique consistently ranking phonological_similarity transcription system sensitive difference transcription system use probe consequence