Computational Phonology

Phonology, as it is practiced, is deeply computational. Phonological analysis is data-intensive and the resulting models are nothing other than specialized data structures and algorithms. In the past, phonological computation – managing data and developing analyses – was done manually with pencil and paper. Increasingly , with the proliferation of affordable computers, IPA fonts and drawing software, phonologists are seeking to move their computation work online. Computational Phonology provides the theoretical and technological framework for this migration, building on methodologies and tools from computational linguistics. This piece consists of an apology for computational phonology, a history, and an overview of current research. Documentation and Description. Phonological data is of essentially three types: texts, wordlists and paradigms. A text is any phonetically transcribed narrative or conversation. A wordlist is any compilation of linguistic forms which can be uttered in isolation, with information about pronunciation and meaning. A paradigm is broadly construed to mean any tabulation of words or phrases which illustrates contrasts and systematic variation. Any of these data types may be annotated with more abstract information originating from a phonological theory, such as syllable boundaries, stress marks and prosodic structure. Additionally, any of these data types may be associated with recordings of audio, video or physiological signals. Digitizing this documentation and description brings all the different media types together, makes the cross-links navigable, and opens up many new possibilities for management, access and preservation. Exploration and Analysis. The data types described above are closely interconnected in phonological practice. For instance, the discovery of a new word in a text may require an update to the lexicon and the construction of a new paradigm (e.g. to correctly classify the word). Fresh insights may lead to new annotations and further elicitation, closing the loop in this perpetual, exploratory 1