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Definitions from WordNet

Definitions from the Web

Complementary Distribution

Description:

Complementary distribution refers to a linguistic phenomenon where two or more forms or elements in a language are used in such a way that they do not appear in the same linguistic environment. They are mutually exclusive and occupy non-overlapping contexts.

Senses:

Linguistics

• Noun: Complementary distribution is the relationship between two or more linguistic forms that are interchangeable in specific contexts, depending on their distinct distribution.
• Adjective: Describing the phenomenon where two or more linguistic elements occur exclusively in separate contexts due to their distribution.

Usages:

Popular:

Complementary distribution is an essential concept in linguistics, as it helps to understand language variation and how different sounds, words, or grammatical constructions are used within specific contexts.

Local:

In our local region, we observe complementary distribution in the pronunciation of certain words. For example, depending on the position within a word, the 'r' sound is either pronounced or silent.

Sample Sentences:

• Linguistics:
  Within the English language, the alveolar nasal sounds /n/ and /ŋ/ are in complementary distribution, with /n/ appearing before 't' or 'd' sounds, and /ŋ/ occurring before 'k' or 'g' sounds.
• Adjective:
  As linguists analyzed the dataset, they discovered that the two phonemes were in complementary distribution, which confirmed their hypothesis about the underlying sound system.
• Popular:
  The concept of complementary distribution helps explain why certain vowels are changed depending on the surrounding consonants in different English dialects.
• Local:
  In our local dialect, the pronunciation of the word 'water' and 'better' exhibit complementary distribution, with the 't' sound being pronounced as a 'd' sound in specific contexts.

Related Products:

• Books on Linguistics
• Phonetics Resources
• Language Variation Studies