London phonological school

1. THE LONDON
PHONOLOGICAL
SCHOOL

2. Contents
• Introduction to the London
Phonological School
• Distinctive Features in the
London Phonological School
• Phonological Processes in
the London Phonological
School
• Prosodic Features in the
London Phonological School
• Phonological Rules in the
London Phonological School
• Legacy and Influence

3. Introduction to the
London
Phonological School
The London Phonological School, founded in
the 1960s, revolutionized the field of phonology.
It emphasized the importance of phonological
features and distinctive features in analyzing
and describing sounds. For example, the
feature [+voice] distinguishes between the
sounds /p/ and /b/. This approach had a
significant impact on subsequent phonological
theories.
Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

4. Distinctive Features
in the London
Phonological School
Distinctive features are the building blocks of
phonological analysis in the London
Phonological School. Features like [+/-voice],
[+/-nasal], and [+/-continuant] are used to
differentiate sounds. For instance, the feature
[+nasal] distinguishes between /m/ and /b/. This
approach allows for a more precise and
systematic analysis of phonological patterns.
Photo by Bailey Burton on Unsplash

5. Phonological
Processes in the
London
Phonological School
The London Phonological School identified
various phonological processes that occur in
language. These processes include
assimilation, deletion, and metathesis. For
example, in English, the /s/ in "cats" becomes
voiced and sounds like /z/ when followed by a
voiced sound, demonstrating assimilation.
Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash

6. Prosodic Features in
the London
Phonological School
Prosodic features, such as stress, tone, and
intonation, are also studied in the London
Phonological School. Stress patterns, like the
contrast between "record" (noun) and "record"
(verb), play a crucial role in English. This
school's analysis of prosody provides insights
into how these features contribute to meaning
and communication.
Photo by Joshua Rondeau on Unsplash

7. Phonological Rules
in the London
Phonological School
The London Phonological School developed a
set of rules to account for sound changes and
phonological patterns. These rules describe
how sounds interact and change in different
linguistic contexts. For instance, the rule of final
devoicing in German explains why /b/ becomes
/p/ at the end of a word.
Photo by Natalie Parham on Unsplash

8. Phonological
Representations in
the London
Phonological School
In the London Phonological School,
phonological representations are based on
distinctive features. These representations
capture the underlying structure of sounds and
their relationships. For example, the
representation of the word "cats" includes the
features [+voice], [+nasal], and [+continuant] for
each segment.

9. Implications for
Language
Acquisition
The London Phonological School's theories
have implications for language acquisition.
Children acquire phonological patterns by
learning the distinctive features and
phonological rules of their native language. For
instance, a child learning English will acquire
the rule of final devoicing, leading to the correct
pronunciation of words like "cab" and "cap."
Photo by Nathana Rebouças on Unsplash

10. Criticisms and
Developments
While influential, the London Phonological
School has faced criticisms. Some argue that
its focus on distinctive features oversimplifies
the complexity of phonological systems.
However, subsequent developments, such as
Optimality Theory, have built upon the school's
foundations, incorporating additional factors
and constraints.
Photo by Ben Tofan on Unsplash

11. Legacy and
Influence
The London Phonological School's emphasis
on distinctive features and phonological rules
has had a lasting impact on the field of
phonology. Its theories and methodologies
continue to shape research and analysis in
phonological studies. The school's legacy can
be seen in the work of contemporary
phonologists worldwide.
Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash

12. Thank you!