Connecting Structure and Variation in Sound Change

“Structured heterogeneity”, a founding concept of variationist sociolinguistics, puts focus on the ordered social differentiation in language. We extend notion structured heterogeneity to formal phonological structure, i.e., representations based contrasts, with implications for phonetic implementation. Phonology establishes parameters what varies and how. Patterns stability variability respect given feature’s relationship allow us ground analysis framework that makes predictions about potential sound changes: more structure correlates stability; less corresponds variability. However, even though all change requires variability, not leads change. Two case studies illustrate this asymmetry, keeping stability. First, Germanic rhotics (r-sounds) from prehistory present day are minimally specified. They show tremendous but Second, laryngeal contrasts (voicing or aspiration) vary language contact. track accumulation unspecified members pairs type spelled <s> ≠ <z>, etc. This regularity change, situating phonology irregularity phonetics lexicon. Structured involves variation inherent within system various levels representation. Phonological then, is acquiring learning different abstract heterogeneous variable input.