{"id":1216,"date":"2021-08-19T20:01:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T12:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/?page_id=1216"},"modified":"2025-07-28T15:36:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T07:36:22","slug":"6-phonetics-and-phonology-minimal-pairs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/sign-linguistics\/6-phonetics-and-phonology-minimal-pairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Module 6 &#8211; Phonetics and Phonology: Minimal Pairs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=5cf8b6f9-e309-4e0e-a6f6-ad7f005a6b4e&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\">As we pointed out earlier, spoken language phonologists are interested in finding out the patterns of sounds, e.g., how sounds are used distinctively to contrast meaning. To begin analyzing the phonology of a language, we need to look for the minimal units that serve to distinguish words from each other. These minimal units are called phonemes. Languages differ in the number of phonemes they use, ranging from just 11 to over 100. English has approximately 37 to 41 depending on the dialects, while the average number of phonemes across spoken languages is about 30 (Hayes, 2009).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=a7f7f993-f1ed-4782-9e16-ad7f005a6bd0&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\">How can phonologists find out what phonemes are used distinctively in a spoken language? They look for minimal pairs. In a minimal pair, the two words are basically identical, except for one difference. In English, <em>time <\/em>[ta\u026am] and <em>dime<\/em> [da\u026am] only differ in the initial consonant, and the two words have different meanings. This follows that \/t\/ and \/d\/ are two distinct sounds and are separate phonemes in English (Hayes, 2009). Another minimal pair example is <em>tip <\/em>[t\u026ap] and<em> tap <\/em>[t\u00e6p]. These two words differ only in the vowel. Since changing the vowel from [\u026a] to [\u00e6] or vice versa will result in a different word, \/\u026a\/ to \/\u00e6\/ are considered separate phonemes in English. <b>Please note: the correct phonetic transcription for &#8216;tap&#8217; is [t\u00e6p], not [tap] as shown&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;video.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=3b04927e-e523-40df-b90c-ad7f005a6ba4&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\">Sign language phonologists can make use of minimal pairs to look for phonemes (i.e., handshape, location, movement) in a sign language, too. In fact, Stokoe argued that the handshapes, locations and movements in his model are all phonemes (he called them \u2018cheremes\u2019 in his early works which were conceptually equivalent to \u2018phonemes\u2019) identified through the use of minimal pairs in ASL. In what follows, we will list out examples of minimal pairs in ASL and HKSL.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Minimal Pairs of signs in ASL and HKSL that differ in handshape:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>CAR &#8211; ASL (Battison, 1978)<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=6f389da3-b647-4765-85a0-ad7900693eff&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SECRET &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=da89b8cb-6af1-4b20-987d-ad79006a638e&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>WHICH &#8211; ASL (Battison 1978)<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=0f32ac11-cd5b-4449-8c21-ad79006927ed&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MOTHER &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=b8638e46-c2e4-4888-a89e-ad8a00a75ad6&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Minimal Pairs of signs in ASL and HKSL that differ in location:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>ONION &#8211; ASL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=187bc3c3-201d-459a-9561-ad79006985e9&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HOSPITAL &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=b5841c05-e25d-4460-99bd-ad8a00a754b6&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>APPLE &#8211; ASL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=40c7686b-d9de-4f5a-a13c-ad7900692fd7&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GREY &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=83902dd3-8b1f-4c46-aed4-ad8a00a754dd&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Minimal Pairs of signs in ASL and HKSL that differ in movement:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>NAME &#8211; ASL (Battison, 1978)<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=f7c81b8b-066d-4119-9c59-ad790069803c&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DIFFERENT &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=5b55f456-508f-4707-81b9-ad8a00a75522&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>SHORT &#8211; ASL (Battison 1978)<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=67bf05b1-4111-492b-a6fe-ad790069186d&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TRY &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=f2b09137-3d74-4265-bd22-ad79006a7e7c&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=7e8efe33-2ffe-4b2c-a698-ad7f005a6b80&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\">Apart from handshape, location and movement, Battison (1978) argued that signs in ASL may only differ in terms of the palm orientation, and the examples given by him were CHAIR and NAME.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>NAME &#8211; ASL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=f7c81b8b-066d-4119-9c59-ad790069803c&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>CHAIR &#8211; ASL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=6ec0f403-2cb0-4387-9e3e-ad7900693f6c&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=9d1ee629-efa3-48d9-a62a-ad7f005a8bb1&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\">Hence, Battison (1978) proposed that palm orientation should be added as the fourth phonological parameter in ASL, in addition to the first three parameters (handshape, location, movement). HKSL has minimal pairs with a difference in orientation, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>SEWING-MACHINE &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=3b82cff6-04ee-4f9e-857a-ad8a00a75e8c&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>PUSH &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=7ccb5369-a996-410e-81bf-ad8a00a75b80&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=eb1cf476-0797-4b3f-be7a-ad7f005a9552&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\">In recent years, it was found that some signs are only distinguished by a difference in non-manuals. This has become the fifth phonological parameter. Below are two sets of examples from ASL and HKSL.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>LATE &#8211; ASL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=8127fed1-1ab6-423d-8975-ad7900696e6f&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LACK-KNOWLEDGE-OF &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=4d12d4cd-5ce2-434b-b9f4-ad8a00a754fc&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>NOT YET &#8211; ASL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=984299b0-5ea6-40d2-8b2e-ad790069860b&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UNSKILLED &#8211; HKSL<br>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=e499f910-d123-4d7d-ae80-ad8a00a760ee&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cuhk.ap.panopto.com\/Panopto\/Pages\/Embed.aspx?id=0ea19c47-5d62-41e8-a962-ad7f00620157&amp;autoplay=false&amp;offerviewer=false&amp;showtitle=false&amp;showbrand=false&amp;captions=false&amp;interactivity=none\" height=\"285\" width=\"720\" style=\"border: 1px solid #464646;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\">If you are interested in the identification of minimal pairs in other sign languages, you may consult Makaro\u011flu et al. (2014) and Morgan (2017).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Battison, R. (1978). <em>Lexical borrowing in American Sign Language. <\/em>Linstok Press. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Hayes, B. (2009). <em>Introductory phonology<\/em>. Wiley-Blackell.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Liddel, S., &amp; Johnson, R. (1989). American sign language: The phonological base. <em>Sign language studies, 64<\/em>, 197-277.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Makaro\u011flu, B., Bekar, \u0130. P. &amp; Arik, E. (2014). Evidence for minimal pairs in Turkish Sign Language (T\u0130D). <em>Pozna\u0144 Studies in Contemporary Linguistics, 50<\/em>(3), 207\u2013230.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Morgan, H. (2017). The Phonology of Kenyan Sign Language (Southwestern Dialect). [PhD dissertation, University of California].<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/sign-linguistics\/5-sign-phonetics-and-phonology-duality-of-patterning\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/sign-linguistics\/5-sign-phonetics-and-phonology-duality-of-patterning\/\">&lt; Module 5: Sign Phonetics and Phonology: Duality of patterning<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/sign-linguistics\/module-7-sign-phonetics-and-phonology-symmetry-and-dominance-condition\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/sign-linguistics\/5-sign-phonetics-and-phonology-duality-of-patterning\/\">Module 7 \u2013 Sign Phonetics and Phonology: Symmetry and Dominance Condition &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div><p id=\"pvc_stats_1216\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"1216\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon small\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p><div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we pointed out earlier, spoken language phonologists are interested in finding out the patterns of sounds, e.g., how sounds are used distinctively to contrast meaning. To begin analyzing the phonology of a language, we need to look for the minimal units that serve to distinguish words from each other&#8230;. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/sign-linguistics\/6-phonetics-and-phonology-minimal-pairs\/\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_1216\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"1216\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon small\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":763,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1216","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1216"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2812,"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1216\/revisions\/2812"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cslds.org\/apsl-consortium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}