The search for primitives in phonology and the explanation of sound patterns: The contribution of fieldwork studies

The search for an adequate set of primitives in phonology and the explanation of sound patterns is a major issue for the discipline. This paper discusses the contribution of fieldwork studies to such a goal. The focus will be on the ways in which phonological theory is shaped by empirical data. It begins by briefly outlining what is meant by fieldwork and sketching the theoretical framework adopted, which follows the lines of the emergent phonology hypothesis proposed by Lindblom (1986, 1990). Phonological problems related to aerodynamic principles, principles relating vocal tract shape to acoustic output, principles relating acoustic output to auditory representation and cognition will be addressed for different languages.SCOPUS: ch.b