DISTINCTIVE AND NON-DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF PHONEMES
Keywords:
phonemes, distinctive features, non-distinctive features, phonology, SPE theory, minimal pairs, natural classes, allophones, phonological rules, feature theory.Abstract
This paper provides an extensive exploration of distinctive and non-distinctive features in phonology, focusing on their theoretical foundations,linguistic functions, and implications for phonemic organization. Distinctive features define the contrasts between phonemes and
enable meaningful distinctions, while non-distinctive features (also called redundant or predictable features) represent phonetic variation that does not alter meaning. Drawing upon classical and generative phonological theories—including Jakobson, Fant, and Halle’s early feature theory and Chomsky and Halle’s SPE system—this paper examines the role of features in defining natural classes, formulating phonological rules, analyzing allophonic patterns, and describing cross-linguistic variation. Additionally, the study highlights implications for language acquisition, second-language learning, psycholinguistics, and speech technology. Through examples from English and other languages, the paper shows
how the distinction between phonemic and allophonic features is fundamental to
understanding the structure of sound systems.
