[+/- nasal]

Definition

The class of sounds that is captured by the distinctive feature [+nasal] include sounds that are articulated with an open velum. Nasal stops (and all other nasal sounds) are [+nasal], whereas non-nasal sounds are [-nasal] (Zsiga, 2013, p. 259).

Examples

  • Hul’q’umi’num’
    • The following phonemes enclosed in blue are members of the [+nasal] natural class in Hul’q’umi’num’.
Adapted from Suttles (2003).
  • Skwxwú7mesh
    • The following phonemes enclosed in blue are members of the [+nasal] natural class in Skwxwú7mesh.
Adapted from Dyck (2004).
  • Secwepemctsín
    • The following phonemes enclosed in blue are members of the [+nasal] natural class in Secwepemctsín.
Adapted from Gibson (1973).