To what extent is open and closed {e} and {o} in Portuguese predictable? 1 Tyler Young

To what extent is open and closed {e} and {o} in Portuguese predictable?1

To what extent is open and To what extent is open and closed {e} and {o} in closed {e} and {o} in

Portuguese predictable?Portuguese predictable?

Tyler Young


Latin VowelsLatin Vowels

Latin had 10 vowels, 5 being short and 5 being long. Orthographically, Latin had 10 vowels, 5 being short and 5 being long. Orthographically, there were only 5 vowels and the differences between the short and there were only 5 vowels and the differences between the short and long vowels were indicated different ways during the evolution of long vowels were indicated different ways during the evolution of the language:the language:

By doubling the vowel for long vowels.By doubling the vowel for long vowels. By marking long vowels with an apex (similar to an acute accent By marking long vowels with an apex (similar to an acute accent

mark.)mark.) By capitalizing long vowels.By capitalizing long vowels.

Eventually all of these systems were abandoned and the vowel quality Eventually all of these systems were abandoned and the vowel quality was left ambiguous.was left ambiguous.


Portuguese VowelsPortuguese VowelsPortuguese has 7 phonemic vowels and 14 allophonic vowels.Portuguese has 7 phonemic vowels and 14 allophonic vowels.


The Big Problem – {e} and {o}The Big Problem – {e} and {o}

/e, ɛ, o, ɔ//e, ɛ, o, ɔ/

Graphemes (Unnatural Stress)Graphemes (Unnatural Stress) Graphemes (Natural Graphemes (Natural Stress)Stress){ê} {ê} [e] [e] {e} {e} [e] or [ɛ][e] or [ɛ]{é} {é} [ɛ] [ɛ] {o{o}} [o] or [ɔ] [o] or [ɔ] {ô} {ô} [o] [o] {ó} {ó} [ɔ] [ɔ]


This This Isn’tIsn’t The Problem The Problem

When a tonic open or closed {e} or {o} falls on the When a tonic open or closed {e} or {o} falls on the unnatural stress of the word, the orthography unnatural stress of the word, the orthography disambiguates the phoneme with accent marks:disambiguates the phoneme with accent marks:

Examples:Examples: exexéército [e’zrcito [e’zɛɛχcito]χcito]óóbvio [‘bvio [‘ɔɔbviu]bviu]vocvocêê [vo’s[vo’see]]metrmetrôô [me’tɾ [me’tɾoo]]


This This IsIs The Problem The Problem

However, if it falls on the natural stress of the word (usually the penultimate syllable), the orthography doesn’t indicate the phoneme:

Examples:Examples: ppoorta rta Is it [‘p Is it [‘pɔɔχtǝ] or *[‘pχtǝ] or *[‘pooχtǝ]?χtǝ]?mmoorto rto Is it *[‘m Is it *[‘mɔɔχtu] or χtu] or

[‘m[‘mooχtu]?χtu]?ffeerro rro Is it [‘f Is it [‘fɛɛhu] or *[‘fhu] or *[‘feehu]?hu]?prpreeto to Is it *[‘pɾ Is it *[‘pɾɛɛtu] or [‘pɾtu] or [‘pɾeetu]?tu]?


My GoalsMy Goals

1.1. Create a corpora of all words with Create a corpora of all words with ambiguous {e} and {o} vowels.ambiguous {e} and {o} vowels.

2.2. Separate the words by tonic vowel Separate the words by tonic vowel [e, ɛ, o, ɔ], and then by [e, ɛ, o, ɔ], and then by grammatical category, gender, etc.grammatical category, gender, etc.

3.3. Analyze the phonetic environments Analyze the phonetic environments around [e, ɛ, o, ɔ] and look for around [e, ɛ, o, ɔ] and look for patterns. Is the allophone patterns. Is the allophone before/after it a vowel or a before/after it a vowel or a consonant? If a vowel, is it front, consonant? If a vowel, is it front, mid, back, high, low, etc.? If a mid, back, high, low, etc.? If a consanant is it voiced or voiceless? consanant is it voiced or voiceless? Is it dental, palatal, alvelar, velar, Is it dental, palatal, alvelar, velar, etc.?etc.?

4.4. Compose a flow chart to show Compose a flow chart to show found rules.found rules.


Two Easy Rules for DisambiguationTwo Easy Rules for Disambiguation

1. [ɛI] and [ɔI] don’t exist in Brazilian Portuguese.1. [ɛI] and [ɔI] don’t exist in Brazilian Portuguese.

2. [ɛ] and [ɔ] don’t appear in atonic syllables.2. [ɛ] and [ɔ] don’t appear in atonic syllables.

Examples:Examples: tambtambéém [tʌ̃I’bm [tʌ̃I’bẽẽĩ] *[tʌ̃I’bĩ] *[tʌ̃I’bɛ�ɛ�ĩ]ĩ] ddeevveemos [dmos [dee’v’vẽẽmus]mus]


Disambiguating VerbsDisambiguating Verbs(Present Indicative) - 1(Present Indicative) - 1

Example Conjugations:Example Conjugations:

ppeegar [pgar [pee’gaχ]’gaχ] ::ppeego [‘pgo [‘pɛɛgu]gu] ppeegamos [pgamos [pee’g’gʌ̃Imus]ʌ̃Imus]ppeegas [‘pgas [‘pɛɛgǝs]gǝs] ppeegais [pgais [pee’gais]’gais]ppeega [‘pga [‘pɛɛgǝ]gǝ] ppeegam [‘pgam [‘pɛɛgʌ̃Iũ]gʌ̃Iũ]

ddeevveer [dr [dee’v’veeχ] :χ] :ddeevo [‘dvo [‘deevu]vu] ddeevveemos [dmos [dee’v’vẽẽmus]mus]ddeeves [‘dves [‘dɛɛvis]vis] ddeevveeis [dis [dee’v’veeis]is]ddeeve [‘dve [‘dɛɛvi]vi] ddeevem [‘dvem [‘dɛɛvẽĩvẽĩ]]



-AR Verbs-AR Verbs Eu Eu open open NósNós no ambiguity no ambiguityTu Tu open open VósVós no ambiguity no ambiguityVocêVocê open open VocêsVocês open open EleEle open open ElesEles open open ElaEla open open ElasElas open open

-ER/-IR Verbs-ER/-IR VerbsEuEu closedclosed NósNós no ambiguity no ambiguityTuTu open open VósVós no ambiguity no ambiguityVocêVocê open open VocêsVocês open openEleEle open open ElesEles open openElaEla open open ElasElas open open



Present IndicativePresent Indicative:: Not all verbs follow the preceing rule. Here are the exceptions.Not all verbs follow the preceing rule. Here are the exceptions.

Irregularly closed:Irregularly closed: -elhar-elhar -ei?ar-ei?ar -ejar-ejar mar/-mermar/-meraconselharaconselhar aproveitaraproveitar bocejarbocejar comercomerajoelharajoelhar beijarbeijar desejardesejar engomarengomar

cheirarcheirar festejarfestejar somarsomar-nar-nar deitardeitar tremertremerapaixonarapaixonar deixardeixar -ou--ou- tomartomaresacionaresacionar enfeitarenfeitar roubarroubarmencionarmencionar queimarqueimar ouvirouvirrelacionarrelacionar queixar-sequeixar-setelefonartelefonar respeitarrespeitar -er (monosillabic)-er (monosillabic)condenarcondenar treinartreinar crercrer

verver-o(i)ar-o(i)ar -ear/iar-ear/iarenjoarenjoar barbearbarbear misc.misc.magoarmagoar chatearchatear fecharfecharperdoarperdoar nomearnomear chegarchegarsoarsoar pentearpentearvoarvoar recearrecearapoiarapoiar odiarodiar


Disambiguating VerbsDisambiguating Verbs(Present Subjunctive / Imperative) (Present Subjunctive / Imperative)

If the conjugation ends in -If the conjugation ends in -e, -es, e, -es, or –or –emem open open All others (-All others (-a, -amos, -ais, -as a, -amos, -ais, -as or –or –am)am) closed closed

Examples:Examples: correr [ko’heχ]correr [ko’heχ] levar [le’vaχ]levar [le’vaχ]ccoorra [‘krra [‘koohǝ]hǝ] lleeve [‘lve [‘lɛɛvi]vi]ccoorras [‘krras [‘koohǝ]hǝ] lleeves [‘lves [‘lɛɛvis]vis]ccoorram [‘krram [‘koohʌ̃Iũ]hʌ̃Iũ] lleevem [‘lvem [‘lɛɛvẽĩ]vẽĩ]


Disambiguating VerbsDisambiguating Verbs(Preterite)(Preterite)There is an ambiguity in the third person plural form of –ER verbs.There is an ambiguity in the third person plural form of –ER verbs.

Irregular VerbsIrregular Verbs: : openopenRegular VerbsRegular Verbs: : closedclosed

Examples:Examples:

Irregular (always Irregular (always openopen): ): --eeram [ram [ɛɛɾʌ̃�ũ]ɾʌ̃�ũ] Regular (always Regular (always closedclosed): ): --eeram [ram [eeɾʌ̃�ũ]ɾʌ̃�ũ]

coubcoubeeram [kou’bram [kou’bɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] agradecagradeceeram [agɾade’sram [agɾade’seeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]ddeeram [dram [dɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] aprendaprendeeram [apɾẽ’dram [apɾẽ’deeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]dissdisseeram [dʒi’sram [dʒi’sɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] bebbebeeram [be’bram [be’beeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]estivestiveeram [estʃi’vram [estʃi’vɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] devdeveeram [de’vram [de’veeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]fizfizeeram [fi’zram [fi’zɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] emagrecemagreceeram [emagɾe’sram [emagɾe’seeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]houvhouveeram [ou’vram [ou’vɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] movmoveeram [mo’vram [mo’veeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]pudpudeeram [pu’dram [pu’dɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] percebpercebeeram [peχse’bram [peχse’beeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]puspuseeram [pu’zram [pu’zɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] sofrsofreeram [so’fɾram [so’fɾeeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]quisquiseeram [ki’zram [ki’zɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] torctorceeram [toχ’sram [toχ’seeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]soubsoubeeram [sou’bram [sou’bɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] tremtremeeram [tɾe’mram [tɾe’meeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]tivtiveeram [tʃi’vram [tʃi’vɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] vendvendeeram [vẽ’dram [vẽ’deeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]trouxtrouxeeram [tɾou’sram [tɾou’sɛɛɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ] vveeram [‘vram [‘veeɾʌ̃Iũ]ɾʌ̃Iũ]


Disambiguating VerbsDisambiguating Verbs(Future Subjunctive)(Future Subjunctive)

There is an ambiguity for –ER verbs.There is an ambiguity for –ER verbs.


Examples:Examples:

Irregulars (always Irregulars (always openopen):): Regulars (always Regulars (always closedclosed):):

tivtiveer [tʃi’vr [tʃi’vɛɛχ]χ] devdeveer [de’vr [de’veeχ]χ]tivtiveeres [tʃi’vres [tʃi’vɛɛɾis]ɾis] devdeveeres [de’vres [de’veeɾis]ɾis]tivtiveermos [tʃi’vrmos [tʃi’vɛɛχmus]χmus] devdeveermos [de’vrmos [de’veeχmus]χmus]tivtiveerdes [tʃi’vrdes [tʃi’vɛɛχdʒis]χdʒis] devdeveerdes [de’vrdes [de’veeχdʒis]χdʒis]tivtiveerem [tʃi’vrem [tʃi’vɛɛɾẽĩ]ɾẽĩ] devdeveerem [de’vrem [de’veeɾẽĩ]ɾẽĩ]quisquiseer [ki’zr [ki’zɛɛχ]χ] sofrsofreer [so’fɾr [so’fɾeeχ]χ]quisquiseeres [ki’zres [ki’zɛɛɾis]ɾis] sofrsofreeres [so’frres [so’freeɾis]ɾis]quisquiseermos [ki’zrmos [ki’zɛɛχmus]χmus] sofrsofreermos [so’fɾrmos [so’fɾeeχmus]χmus]quisquiseerdes [ki’zrdes [ki’zɛɛχdʒis]χdʒis] sofrsofreerdesrdes [so’fɾ[so’fɾeeχdʒis]χdʒis]quisquiseerem [ki’zrem [ki’zɛɛɾẽĩ]ɾẽĩ] sofrsofreerem [so’fɾrem [so’fɾeeɾẽĩ]ɾẽĩ]


Disambiguating VerbsDisambiguating Verbs(Past Subjunctive)(Past Subjunctive)There is an ambiguity for –ER verbs, except first and second person plural forms.There is an ambiguity for –ER verbs, except first and second person plural forms.


Examples:Examples:

Irregulares (always Irregulares (always openopen):): Regulares (always Regulares (always closedclosed):):

tivtiveesse [tʃi’vsse [tʃi’vɛɛsi]si] devdeveesse [de’vsse [de’veesi]si]tivtiveesses [tʃi’vsses [tʃi’vɛɛsis]sis] devdeveesses [de’vsses [de’veesis]sis]tivtivééssemos [tʃi’vssemos [tʃi’vɛɛsemus]semus] devdevêêssemos [de’vssemos [de’veesemus]semus]tivtivéésseis [tʃi’vsseis [tʃi’vɛɛseis]seis] devdevêêsseis [de’vsseis [de’veesseis]sseis]tivtiveessem [tʃi’vssem [tʃi’vɛɛsẽĩ]sẽĩ] devdeveessem [de’vssem [de’veesẽĩ]sẽĩ]quisquiseesse [ki’zsse [ki’zɛɛsi]si] sofrsofreesse [so’fɾsse [so’fɾeesi]si]quisquiseesses [ki’zsses [ki’zɛɛsis]sis] sofrsofreesses [so’frsses [so’freesis]sis]quisquisééssemos [ki’zssemos [ki’zɛɛsemus]semus] sofrsofrêêssemos [so’fɾssemos [so’fɾeesemus]semus]quisquiséésseis [ki’zsseis [ki’zɛɛseis]seis] sofrsofrêêsseissseis [so’fɾ[so’fɾeeseis]seis]quisquiseessem [ki’zssem [ki’zɛɛsẽĩ]sẽĩ] sofrsofreessem [so’fɾssem [so’fɾeesẽĩ]sẽĩ]


Disambiguating AdjectivesDisambiguating Adjectives

Certain types of adjectives follow an easy rule:Certain types of adjectives follow an easy rule:

If it ends in If it ends in –{oso}–{oso} closedclosed

[‘[‘oozu]zu]

If it ends in If it ends in –{osa}, {osos}, –{osa}, {osos}, or {or {osas}osas} open open

[‘[‘ɔɔzǝ], [‘zǝ], [‘ɔɔzus], [‘zus], [‘ɔɔzǝs]zǝs]

All other adjectives may follow a different more All other adjectives may follow a different more complicated system.complicated system.


Disambiguating Nouns - 1Disambiguating Nouns - 1

This is the tendency I noticed: This is the tendency I noticed: Generally, when a noun has a tonic {e} or {o}:Generally, when a noun has a tonic {e} or {o}:

Feminine NounsFeminine Nouns openopenMasculine NounsMasculine Nouns closedclosed

Examples:Examples: masculine:masculine: feminine:feminine:

ppoorto [‘prto [‘pooχtǝ]χtǝ] ppoorta [‘prta [‘pɔɔχtǝ]χtǝ]glgloobo [‘glbo [‘gloobu]bu] bboola [‘bla [‘bɔɔlǝ]lǝ]ggeelo [‘ʒlo [‘ʒeelu]lu] mmeeta [‘mta [‘mɛɛtǝ]tǝ]bbeerço [‘brço [‘beeχsu]χsu] ffeebre ['fbre ['fɛɛbɾi]bɾi]

This is hardly a rule.This is hardly a rule.


Disambiguating Nouns - 2Disambiguating Nouns - 2

Some plural nouns go from closed to open in the plural:Some plural nouns go from closed to open in the plural:

Examples:Examples:

Singular (closed):Singular (closed): Plural (open):Plural (open):

oolho [‘lho [‘ooƛu]ƛu] oolhos [‘lhos [‘ɔɔƛus]ƛus]oovo [‘vo [‘oovu]vu] oovos [‘vos [‘ɔɔvus]vus]oosso [‘sso [‘oosu]su] oossos [‘ssos [‘ɔɔsus]sus]glgloobo [‘glbo [‘gloobu]bu] glgloobos [‘glbos [‘glɔɔbus]bus]ffoogo [‘fgo [‘foogu]gu] ffoogos [‘fgos [‘fɔɔgus]gus]ccooro [‘cro [‘cooɾu]ɾu] ccooros [‘cros [‘cɔɔɾus]ɾus]ccoorvo [‘crvo [‘cooχvu]χvu] ccoorvos [‘crvos [‘cɔɔχvus]χvus]

This phenomenon only occurs with ambiguous {o} and not {e}.This phenomenon only occurs with ambiguous {o} and not {e}.


To Do ListTo Do List1. Study verb patterns using “501 Portuguese

Verbs.”

2. Establish rules for verbs.

3. Use computer macro to gather large corpora.

4. Establish rules (if any) for nouns.

5. Establish rules (if any) for adjectives.

6. Establish rules (if any) for other categories.

7. Create flow chart for each category.


SourcesSources

Documents

To what extent is open and closed {e} and {o} in Portuguese predictable? 1 Tyler Young