1974 Volume 1974 Issue 65 Pages 37-47
There are various ways of analysing phonemes into distinctive features which may all be correct. The diversity of the results depends upon the different principles underlying the analytical method. Here it has been attempted to show the relativity of analysis. Each step is controlled and supported by phonetic facts derived from an instrumental analysis. By taking the relative duration of speech sounds into account it has been avoided to set up combinatory allophones as independent phonemes. Such treatment also opens up new perspectives in the explanation of a number of historical sound developments which can be observed in a number of languages.