Phonetic Bias in Sound Change

Abstract

Most typologies of sound change have drawn either a two-way distinction between changes grounded in articulation and perception or a three-way distinction among perceptual confusion, hypocorrective changes, and hypercorrective changes. The first approach defines the mainstream neogrammarian, structuralist, and generative tradition; the second approach is found in the work of Ohala, Blevins, and their colleagues. We seek to develop a typology of asymmetric sound change patterns based on biases emerging from four elements of speech production and perception: motor planning, aerodynamic constraints, gestural mechanics, and perceptual parsing. The first three of these are the most securely established. In addition, some asymmetries in sound change and phonological patterning may also be consequences of system-dependent biases that operate in phonologization. Finally, we sketch features of a theory linking speech production and perception biases to the emergence of new speech norms. 1 1 For helpful discussion we thank audiences at UC Berkeley and UC Davis, and our students in Fall 2008 (Garrett) and Fall 2010 (Johnson) seminars. We are also very grateful to