Phonematics of Czech: An axiomatic-functionalist view

Mgr. Aleš Bičan, Ph.D.

Advanced ('rigorózní') thesis

Abstract:

The thesis offers an analysis of the phonematics of Present Standard Czech. The description is achieved with the help of the theory and methodology of Aximatic Functionalism, a functionalist approach to speech related to functionalism of André Martinet and that of Nikolai S. Trubetzkoy of the Prague School. The analysis discusses inventories of consonants, vowels and semiconsonants in Czech, explains why affricates are regarded as two-phoneme combinations whereas diphthongs as singular phonemes. A special attention is given to so-called marginal phonemes like /f/, /g/, /ó/; it is explained why they are viewed as part of the phonematic system of Czech. A large portion of the work is dedicated to the problem of neutralization and archiphonemes in Czech.

Keywords

phonematics, fonematika, Czech, čeština, Axiomatic Functionalism, axiomatický funkcionalismus, Mulder, neutralization, neutralizace, commutation test, komutační test, archiphoneme, archifoném, phonology, fonologie, phonemes, fonémy

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 28. 5. 2008

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 10. 6. 2008
• Oponent: PhDr. Ondřej Šefčík, Ph.D., doc. Mgr. Bohumil Vykypěl, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Advanced ('rigorózní řízení') programme / odbor:
Philology / General Linguistics