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French version |
The issues from 1 to 148 are also available on line at NUMDAM and at Revues.org for the following issues |
- Results for criterions:
- Author: GEWURZ Daniele A.
1 match
| Title | A combinatorial approach to the phonetic similarity of languages |
| Author | GEWURZ Daniele A., VIETRI Andrea |
| Keywords | Functional graphs, Natural languages, Partitions, Point arrangements, Voronoi diagrams |
| Topics | Classification - Clustering - Partitioning, Combinatorics, Graphs, Linguistics |
| Abstract | By exploiting a well-known geometrical representation of vowel phonemes, we devise a two-dimensional model in which vowels are points and distances between points express auditory discrepancies. This will allow us to describe the vowel system of a language, as seen by another language, by means of a set partition whose combinatorial properties can be explored. The basic concept we employ is that of Voronoi diagram, which has been, so far, extensively used for many other purposes. In the present framework we point out some combinatorial features of integers partitions which describe dissimilarities between vowel inventories of different languages. We classify the possible relations between inventories via suitable directed graphs related to point configurations and, in particular, to the pertinent Voronoi diagrams. We apply the above theory to some real languages, we also look for possible improvements that make a vowel inventory easier to understand by a listener whose auditory categorisation is different. Finally, we describe particular inventories, easily understandable in many languages at the same time. |
| Number | 179, Fall 2007 |
| Language |  English |
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