Emergent feature theory
Jeff Mielke · 2008
Abstract Previous chapters have shown that many different phonetic properties can be relevant for defining sound patterns. Innate feature theories typically choose a set of features that is too small to handle all of these sound patterns. By positing no innate features which favor certain phonetic properties over others, emergent feature theory effectively says that any feature is possible, i.e. any feature can emerge. As in innate feature theory, some phonetic properties are expected to be involved in more sound patterns, but they are favored according to the robustness of their phonetic correlates and their propensity for involvement in sound changes that give rise to patterns referring to them.