Some aspects of the Brazilian Portuguese vowel system: a Radical CV Phonology approach

Abstract

Radical CV Phonology (HULST, 2005) is a development of Dependency Phonology (ANDERSON and EWEN, 1987). It pursues the idea that the internal and external syntax of phonological segments can be represented in terms of just two primitives, features C and V. The grouping of these elements in the syllable, into the three segmental constituents – the gestures Laryngeal, Place, Manner –, enables one to represent cross-linguistic phonological contrasts. The approach of the Radical CV Phonology to the Portuguese vowels provides a representation of the phonological distinctions and expresses, with the resultant combinations and their relative markedness, the motivation of some aspects of the Portuguese vowel system: vowel neutralization and the asymmetry in the number of phonemes in the different stress positions; vowel neutralization; the front high vowel as the trigger of the palatalization of coronal stops.