particle phonology

An approach to PHONOLOGY which focuses on the analysis of the internal structure of phonological SEGMENTS. For example, in the analysis of VOWELS, three privative features (particles) are recognized – [a] representing OPENNESS, [i] representing FRONTNESS, and [u] representing ROUNDING – and segments are seen to be composed of one or more particles. An [e] vowel, for example, would be analyzed as a combination of [i] + [a]. The approach is similar to that used in DEPENDENCY PHONOLOGY, though differences include the number of PRIMITIVES recognized and the treatment of vowel height. The approach claims to have advantages in the handling of such processes as ASSIMILATION and the relationship between MONOPHTHONGS and DIPHTHONGS.