This document discusses distinctive features in phonology. It begins by defining distinctive features as phonological elements that help identify phonemes in a distinct manner from other sounds. It then provides examples of distinctive features for various English sounds like /p/ and /b/, discussing features like voicing. The document also classifies distinctive features into major features (e.g. sonorant), primary features (e.g. place of articulation), and secondary features (e.g. nasal). Finally, it provides a table analyzing the phonological features of various English sounds like /p/, /l/, /i:/, etc.

1. ENGL 315:
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Professor I. O. DANIEL

2. What are they?
These were developed following Chomsky and Halle (1968).
They are phonological features that phonemes have that help us
identify them in a distinct manner from other sounds that may be in
their category.
These features are usually peculiar to the particular sounds in a
manner that no other sound can share them.
This is why they are called distinctive.

3. Nature of DFs
In the course of producing a sound, some features help us narrow them
down to particular phonemic forms in English.
These elements are usually phonological in nature.
The idea is that of identifying what contrasts one sound from the other.
This contrasting feature is peculiar to that sound
Others with the same phonetic features will not share that particular
element or at least not in the same way.

4. Difference between DFs and
Phonetic Descriptions
Phones are elements that are produced as sounds.
They have places of articulation and manners in
which the airstream that produced them are
released
These are essentially phonetic description of the
sounds

5. Difference cont’d
DFs are different because they are phonological
elements in operation.
They have to do with descriptions in terms of the
phonological operations on the sound
They are specific details that describe the sounds
in fully.

6. Examples
Let us exemplify
Example of /p/ and /b/
The sounds are both produced at the same points of articulation … (student to name)
They have the same manner of articulation … (student to provide)
However, they are different sounds. How do we determine that? (Minimal pairing)
/pil/ /bil/ /_il/ the two sounds can both fill the empty slot in the same position.
/pein/ /bein/ /_ein/ once again, the same empty slot can be filled with both sounds.
This shows they are not allophonic variants but different phonemes. (You will learn more about this in
phonological processes)

7. So what is the ‘problem’? Why are they different
if they share so much in common?
PHONATION
one sound is +voice and the other is -voice
It means that the two sounds are distinct in
terms of voicing.

8. Identifying DFs
The sounds could be distinctly determined in terms of one feature.
The phonological features are described in terms of their being present
or absent. The particular feature could be absent or present in a
particular sound.
The are described in binary terms. It is either a plus or minus the
feature. The signs [+, -] are used to indicate the presence or absence
of the feature.
These features are actually PHONOLOGICAL in nature.

9. Some Practice
Identify DFs in the following sounds: /s, z, m, n/
/s, z/ both oral sounds, so nasality absent = [-nasal]
/m, n/ both have nasality present = [+nasal]
/s, z, n/ all alveolar sounds = [-labial]
/m/ lips involved in its articulation = [+labial]
/s/ produced with glottis open = [-voice]
/z, m, n/ glottis narrowed and vibrating = [+voice]

10. In this way, different features are identified and
help us to describe the sound in definite terms
following its phonological behaviour.
Describe these sounds, identifying some
features that make them distinct, using the
binary indicator: /p, b, h, t, d, ŋ/

11. Classifying the Distinctive
Features
There are major features
There are also primary features
There are secondary features
These features are indicated within the
framework of phonetic description.

12. Major Features
Sonorant: these have spontaneous voicing. E.g. vowels, approximants, nasals
Non-sonorant: also called obstruents. spontaneous voicing not possible. They have both voiced
and non-voiced elements. Plosives, fricatives, affricates
Vocalic: In producing them, no obstruction at any point. Eg, vowels, semi-vowels /r, l/
Non-vocalic: there is obstruction in the production process. Eg, nasals consonants, non-sonorants,
Consonantal: There is obstruction at some points in the vocal tract, as narrow as in fricatives and
approximants.
Non-consonantal: No obstruction is possible in their production. Eg, vowels

13. Cavity Features
Anterior: these sounds are produced with obstructions in front of the palato-
alveolar region. Eg, labials, dentals, alveolars.
Non-anterior: The sounds are made before the alveolar region. Eg, palato-
alveolar, velar, glottal,
Coronal: blade of the tongue is raised upwards from its neutral position. Eg,
dentals, alveolar, palato-alveolar.
Non-coronal: the blade of the tongue is not raised above the neutral position. Eg,
labials, palatal, velar, vowels.
Neutral position is the /e/ position.

14. Tongue Features
High: when the tongue is raised above the neutral position. Eg, palatals, velars, high (close) vowels
Non-high: when the tongue is not above the neutral position. Eg, labials, glottal, central and low
(open) vowels
Low: the tongue is below the neutral position. Eg, low (open) vowel /a:/, glottal /h/,
Non-low: when the tongue is not lowered below the neutral position. Central and high vowels,
labials, alveolars, palatals, velars
Back: Tongue is retracted backwards from the neutral position. Eg, velars, back vowels, etc.
Non-back: when there is no retraction of the tongue. Sounds in front of the velar. Eg, labials,
dentals, alveolars, palatals, central and front vowels

15. Lip Posture
Round: when the lips get rounded and narrows the
lip orifice. Eg, back vowels, velar approximant /w/ as
well as labialised sounds.
Non-round: such rounding does not occur. Eg, all
front, central and low (open) back vowels, coronals,
palatals, alveolars, and non-labialised velars.

16. Secondary Aperture
Features
Nasal: velum is lowered to allow airstream pass
through the nose.
Non-nasal: velum is not lowered for its
production. Oral articulation of sounds. All oral
sounds are produced in this manner.

17. Manner Features
Continuant: there is no total blockage of air at the point of articulation.
Eg, fricatives, approximants
Non-continuant: there is blockage of airflow at some point in the
constriction of the articulatory organs. Eg, plosives and affricates
Delayed release: the air is gradually released after its obstruction. Eg,
affricates /t∫, dʒ/
Non-delayed release: obstructed air is released instantaneously. Eg,
plosives.

18. Phonation Features
Voiced: there is the vibration of the vocal cords in its production. Eg, all English
vowels, voiced consonants in English
Non-voiced: there is free passage of air through the glottis. Eg, voiceless
consonants, devoiced vowels and consonants
Note: remember that DFs are phonological features. So, such devoiced
consonants and vowels can occur due to environmental conditioning.
You will learn about this in the phonological processes.

19. Distinctive Features of English Sounds
Let us do some practice
p l i: m d k a:
Sonorant - - + + - - +
Consonantal + + - + + + -
Vocalic - + + - - - +
High - - + - + + -
Low - - - - - - +
Back - - - - + + +
Voiced - + + + + - +
Nasal - - - + - + -

20. TABLE OF PHONOLOGICAL
FEATURES OF ENGLISH
The full table could be accessed in: Introductory
Phonetics and Phonology of English (2011) by
Iyabode Omolara DANIEL.

21. Some Sample Tests
Draw and label the consonant chart of English.
Give the phonetic description of the following sounds of English: /𝜽,
∫, t, v, 𝜀, ǝu, ʒ, ŋ, h, b/
Give the possible minimal pair of the following initial and final
consonants as used in these words:
fix, dent, duel, lift, chalk (initial)
pit, game, take, Shane, stride (final)