Build a phonological rule

After you insert a phonological rule, do the following steps:

1. In the Rule Formula field, click the position in the rule where you want the insertion point, and then click any of the following:

   • Phoneme

     The Choose Phoneme dialog box appears.

   • Natural Class

     The Choose Natural Class dialog box appears.

   • Click the ellipsis button to choose an environment

     The Choose Environment dialog box appears.

   • Phonological Feature(s)

     The Choose Phonological Features dialog box appears.

   • Word boundary (#)

     # (a word boundary marker) is inserted.

   • Morpheme boundary (+)

     + (a word boundary marker) is inserted.

2. If a dialog box appears and shows the item you want, select the item, and then click OK. If the item you need is not shown in a dialog box, click the link near the bottom of that dialog box so you can insert the new item. Then return to this field and continue.

   • In the Choose Phonological Features dialog box, if the phonological feature you need is shown, click it. Then, in the Value column select a value +, -, or a custom value you inserted. Or, select agree or disagree. Repeat this for each one you need to insert. Click OK.

   The selected item is inserted in the rule and the cursor remains adjacent to the inserted item.

3. Repeat the above steps for each position in the rule.

4. To delete an item or column you inserted, select the item or space (if empty) in the Input row, and then press the Backspace or Delete key.

5. Click an item in the rule, and then right-click that item to display a context-sensitive menu. Click one of these menu commands:

   • Occurs exactly once

   • Occurs zero or more times

   • Occurs one or more times

   • Set occurrence (min. and max.)

   • Set Phonological Features

   • Show in Natural Class

   • Show in Phonemes

Note

• In the Rule Formula field, when you choose a one or more phonological features, a natural class is automatically generated in Natural Classes.

• Phonological Features field contains a description of phonological features, rules and phonemes.

• For more information, point to Resources on the Help menu, and then click Introduction to Parsing.

Related Topics

Configure Columns (in dialog boxes)

Parsing words (Hermit Crab parser)

Phonological Rules overview

Specify the order of phonological rules