Phonetics And Phonology Questions Medium
Distinctive features are phonetic or phonological properties that distinguish one sound from another in a particular language. These features are used to differentiate between phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound that can change the meaning of a word. Distinctive features can be binary, meaning they are either present or absent in a sound, or they can have multiple values.
On the other hand, non-distinctive features are phonetic or phonological properties that do not serve to distinguish one sound from another in a language. These features are not used to differentiate between phonemes and do not change the meaning of a word. Non-distinctive features can still be present in sounds, but they are not crucial for distinguishing between different phonemes.
In summary, the main difference between distinctive and non-distinctive features lies in their role in distinguishing between phonemes. Distinctive features are essential for differentiating sounds and changing word meanings, while non-distinctive features do not serve this purpose.