O gradience, where art thou? Examining backness harmony in Uyghur

Bibliographic Data

ID24215213
AuthorsAdam Mccollum (0000-0002-6650-0433, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), Karthik Durvasula (0000-0001-7739-7470, Michigan State University), Xiayimaierdan Abudushalamu (Indiana University)
Year2026
Volume43
Publication date2026-09-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhonology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0952-6757 • E-ISSN: 1469-8188
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0952675726100438
OpenAlexW7214208168
LanguageEN
References cited53

Discreteness of representations is a core commitment of classical generative phonology. However, one of the biggest arguments levelled against discreteness has come from the phenomenon of incomplete neutralisation – where the output of some phonological process on a feature [F] is phonetically distinct from underived [±F]. A sizeable body of work has contended that incomplete neutralisation crucially undermines the sufficiency of discrete representations, arguing instead for the inclusion of gradient representations. In this article, we investigate backness harmony in Uyghur, evaluating recent claims of incomplete neutralisation. Results from two production studies replicate findings from previous work on the language, but we show that, with proper experimental controls, the pattern is derivable without recourse to gradient phonological representations. We then discuss the conceptual and theoretical challenges for gradient representations along with criteria for true phonologically relevant gradience.

phonological production · Uyghurs · Linguistics and Cultural Studies · Phonetics and Phonology Research · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

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