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{{More footnotes|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox IPA
{{Infobox IPA
| above = Long
| above = Long
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| ipa number =503
| ipa number =503
| decimal =720
| decimal =720
| x-sampa =:
}}
}}
{{Infobox IPA
{{Infobox IPA
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| ipa number =504
| ipa number =504
| decimal =721
| decimal =721
| x-sampa =:\
}}
}}
{{Infobox IPA
{{Infobox IPA
| above = Extra long
| above = Extra long
| ipa symbol = ◌ːː
| ipa symbol = ◌ːˑ
| ipa symbol2 = ◌ːː
}}
}}
{{Infobox IPA
| above = Extra short
| ipa symbol = ◌̆
| ipa number =505
| decimal =774
}}
{{IPA notice}}
In [[phonetics]], '''length''' or '''quantity''' is a [[distinctive feature|feature]] of sounds that have distinctively extended duration compared with other sounds. There are [[vowel length|long vowels]] as well as [[Consonant length|long consonants]] (the latter are often called ''geminates'').
In [[phonetics]], '''length''' or '''quantity''' is a [[distinctive feature|feature]] of sounds that have distinctively extended duration compared with other sounds. There are [[vowel length|long vowels]] as well as [[Consonant length|long consonants]] (the latter are often called ''geminates'').


Many languages do not have distinctive length. Among the languages that have distinctive length, there are only a few that have both distinctive vowel length and distinctive consonant length. It is more common that there is only one or that they depend on each other.
Many languages do not have distinctive length. Among the languages that have distinctive length, there are only a few that have both distinctive vowel length and distinctive consonant length. It is more common that there is only one or that they depend on each other.


The languages that distinguish between different lengths have usually long and short sounds. According to some linguists, [[Estonian language|Estonian]] and some [[Sami languages]] have three phonemic (meaning-distinguishing) lengths for consonants and vowels. Some [[Low German]]/[[Low Saxon languages|Low Saxon]] varieties in the vicinity of [[Hamburg]]<ref>Stellmacher, 1973</ref> and some [[Moselle Franconian]]<ref>Page 116 in Elmar Ternes: ''{{lang|de|Einführung in die Phonologie.}}'' {{lang|de|Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft}}, Darmstadt, 1987, ISBN 3-534-09576-6</ref> and [[Ripuiarian Franconian]] varieties do, too.
The languages that distinguish between different lengths have usually long and short sounds. The [[Mixe languages|Mixe]] languages are widely considered to have three distinctive levels of vowel length,<ref>{{Cite book|title=The sounds of the world's languages|last=Ladefoged, Peter.|publisher=Blackwell Publishers|others=Maddieson, Ian.|year=1996|isbn=0631198148|location=Oxford, OX, UK|pages=320|oclc=31867443}}</ref> as do [[Estonian language|Estonian]], some [[Low German]] varieties in the vicinity of [[Hamburg]]<ref>Stellmacher, 1973{{Incomplete short citation|date=August 2023}}</ref> and some [[Moselle Franconian]]<ref>Page 116 in Elmar Ternes: ''{{lang|de|Einführung in die Phonologie.}}'' {{lang|de|Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft}}, Darmstadt, 1987, {{ISBN|3-534-09576-6}}</ref> and [[Ripuarian Franconian]] varieties.


Strictly speaking, a pair of a long sound and a short sound should be identical except for their length. In certain languages, however, there are pairs of [[phoneme]]s that are traditionally considered to be long-short pairs even though they differ not only in length, but also in quality, for instance [[English language|English]] "long e" which is {{IPA|/iː/}} (as in ''f'''ee'''t'' {{IPA|/fiːt/}}) vs. "short i" which is {{IPA|/ɪ/}} (as in ''f'''i'''t'' {{IPA|/fɪt/}}) or [[German language|German]] "long e" which is {{IPA|/eː/}} (as in ''B'''ee'''t'' {{IPA|/beːt/}} 'garden bed') vs. "short e" which is {{IPA|/ɛ/}} (as in ''B'''e'''tt'' {{IPA|/bɛt/}} 'sleeping bed'). Also, tonal contour may reinforce the length, as in Estonian, where the over-long length is concomitant with a tonal variation resembling tonal stress marking.
Strictly speaking, a pair of a long sound and a short sound should be identical except for their length. In certain languages, however, there are pairs of [[phoneme]]s that are traditionally considered to be long-short pairs even though they differ not only in length, but also in quality, for instance [[English language|English]] "long e" which is {{IPA|/iː/}} (as in ''f'''ee'''t'' {{IPA|/fiːt/}}) vs. "short i" which is {{IPA|/ɪ/}} (as in ''f'''i'''t'' {{IPA|/fɪt/}}) or [[German language|German]] "long e" which is {{IPA|/eː/}} (as in ''B'''ee'''t'' {{IPA|/beːt/}} 'garden bed') vs. "short e" which is {{IPA|/ɛ/}} (as in ''B'''e'''tt'' {{IPA|/bɛt/}} 'sleeping bed'). Also, [[tone contour|tonal contour]] may reinforce the length, as in [[Estonian (language)|Estonian]], where the over-long length is [[wikt:concomitant|concomitant]] with a tonal variation resembling tonal stress marking.


In transcription, diacritics may occur over either the base letter, the length sign, or both. For example, in some non-rhotic varieties of English the /t/ of the word ''party'' may be nearly elided, with just some breathy-voice remaining, in which case it may be transcribed {{IPA|[ˈpɑː̤ɪ]}}.<ref>Heselwood (2013) ''Phonetic transcription in theory and practice'' p. 13.</ref> When both length and tone are moraic, a tone diacritic may appear twice, as in {{IPA|[sáː̀]}} (falling tone on a long vowel). A morpheme may be reduced to length plus nasalization, in which case a word might be transcribed {{IPA|[saː̃]}}. If the length is morphemic, the morphemes would be {{IPA|/ː̀/}} and {{IPA|/ː̃/}}.
In transcription in the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], long vowels or consonants are notated with the length sign (ː [[Unicode]] U+02D0 MODIFIER LETTER TRIANGULAR COLON) after the letter. [[Diacritic]]s may occur over either the base letter, the length sign, or both. For example, in some [[Rhoticity in English|non-rhotic varieties of English]] the /t/ of the word ''party'' may be nearly [[Elision|elided]], with just some breathy-voice remaining, in which case it may be transcribed {{IPA|[ˈpɑː̤ɪ]}}.<ref>Heselwood (2013) ''Phonetic transcription in theory and practice'' p. 13.</ref> When both length and tone are [[Mora (linguistics)|moraic]], a tone diacritic may appear twice, as in {{IPA|[sáː̀]}} (falling tone on a long vowel). A morpheme may be reduced to length plus nasalization, in which case a word might be transcribed {{IPA|[saː̃]}}. If the length is morphemic, the morphemes would be {{IPA|/ː̀/}} and {{IPA|/ː̃/}}.


In this non-linear [[phonology]], the feature of length is often not a feature of a specific sound segment, but rather of the whole syllable.
In this non-linear [[phonology]], the feature of length is often not a feature of a specific sound segment, but rather of the whole syllable.
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* [[Chroneme]]
* [[Chroneme]]
* [[Extra-short]]
* [[Extra-short]]
* [[Colon (letter)]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{cite book |first=Yallop Collin, Fletcher Janet|last=Clark John |year=2007 |title=Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology |chapter= |editor= |others= |pages=(pp)51–52, 26–27, 32–33 |location=Oxford |publisher=Blackwell |id= |url= |authorlink=}}
{{cite book |first=Yallop Collin, Fletcher Janet|last=Clark John |year=2007 |title=Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology |pages=(pp)51–52, 26–27, 32–33 |location=Oxford |publisher=Blackwell }}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


Latest revision as of 22:20, 3 June 2024

Long
◌ː
IPA Number503
Encoding
Entity (decimal)&#720;
Unicode (hex)U+02D0
X-SAMPA:
Half long
◌ˑ
IPA Number504
Encoding
Entity (decimal)&#721;
Unicode (hex)U+02D1
X-SAMPA:\
Extra long
◌ːˑ
◌ːː
Extra short
◌̆
IPA Number505
Encoding
Entity (decimal)&#774;
Unicode (hex)U+0306
This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

In phonetics, length or quantity is a feature of sounds that have distinctively extended duration compared with other sounds. There are long vowels as well as long consonants (the latter are often called geminates).

Many languages do not have distinctive length. Among the languages that have distinctive length, there are only a few that have both distinctive vowel length and distinctive consonant length. It is more common that there is only one or that they depend on each other.

The languages that distinguish between different lengths have usually long and short sounds. The Mixe languages are widely considered to have three distinctive levels of vowel length,[1] as do Estonian, some Low German varieties in the vicinity of Hamburg[2] and some Moselle Franconian[3] and Ripuarian Franconian varieties.

Strictly speaking, a pair of a long sound and a short sound should be identical except for their length. In certain languages, however, there are pairs of phonemes that are traditionally considered to be long-short pairs even though they differ not only in length, but also in quality, for instance English "long e" which is /iː/ (as in feet /fiːt/) vs. "short i" which is /ɪ/ (as in fit /fɪt/) or German "long e" which is /eː/ (as in Beet /beːt/ 'garden bed') vs. "short e" which is /ɛ/ (as in Bett /bɛt/ 'sleeping bed'). Also, tonal contour may reinforce the length, as in Estonian, where the over-long length is concomitant with a tonal variation resembling tonal stress marking.

In transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet, long vowels or consonants are notated with the length sign (ː Unicode U+02D0 MODIFIER LETTER TRIANGULAR COLON) after the letter. Diacritics may occur over either the base letter, the length sign, or both. For example, in some non-rhotic varieties of English the /t/ of the word party may be nearly elided, with just some breathy-voice remaining, in which case it may be transcribed [ˈpɑː̤ɪ].[4] When both length and tone are moraic, a tone diacritic may appear twice, as in [sáː̀] (falling tone on a long vowel). A morpheme may be reduced to length plus nasalization, in which case a word might be transcribed [saː̃]. If the length is morphemic, the morphemes would be /ː̀/ and /ː̃/.

In this non-linear phonology, the feature of length is often not a feature of a specific sound segment, but rather of the whole syllable.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Clark John, Yallop Collin, Fletcher Janet (2007). Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology. Oxford: Blackwell. pp. (pp)51–52, 26–27, 32–33.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

  1. ^ Ladefoged, Peter. (1996). The sounds of the world's languages. Maddieson, Ian. Oxford, OX, UK: Blackwell Publishers. p. 320. ISBN 0631198148. OCLC 31867443.
  2. ^ Stellmacher, 1973[incomplete short citation]
  3. ^ Page 116 in Elmar Ternes: Einführung in die Phonologie. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt, 1987, ISBN 3-534-09576-6
  4. ^ Heselwood (2013) Phonetic transcription in theory and practice p. 13.
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