Book contents
- Vowel Reduction
- Series page
- Cambridge Studies In Linguistics
- Vowel Reduction
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Theory
- 3 Vowel Reduction for a New Zealand English Speaker
- 4 Vowel Reduction for Some European Portuguese Speakers
- 5 Methods
- 6 Typology
- 7 Alternative Theories
- 8 Future Research
- Appendices
- References
- Index
1 - Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 September 2026
Book contents
- Vowel Reduction
- Series page
- Cambridge Studies In Linguistics
- Vowel Reduction
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Theory
- 3 Vowel Reduction for a New Zealand English Speaker
- 4 Vowel Reduction for Some European Portuguese Speakers
- 5 Methods
- 6 Typology
- 7 Alternative Theories
- 8 Future Research
- Appendices
- References
- Index
Summary
This chapter introduces the motivation, scope, and theoretical foundation of the book. It begins by outlining the phenomenon of vowel reduction, in which vowels undergo qualitative or quantitative changes in unstressed positions, and emphasizes its significance for understanding the interaction between phonetics and phonology. To account for this, it proposes Mora Loss and Restoration Theory, which treats vowel reduction as a process triggered by mora loss, potentially leading to further phonetic or featural adjustments. Finally, it discusses the methodology for testing and verifying the theory.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Vowel ReductionTheory and Evidence, pp. 1 - 23Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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