聲調與非聲調語言： 語言類型學與參數的替代方案

Tone and Non-tone Languages: An Alternative to Language Typology and Parameters

語言學家好將語言作種種類型分類。在生成音韻學中，語言類型之分係以參數為之，諸如揚抑格抑抑揚格的參數，或計音節抑計音拍的參數等等。以聲調與非聲調語言而論，我認為這種類型的或參數的辦法有四個問題。第一，無法作清楚的歸類。第二，無法掌握不同語言類型的相似性。第三，無法掌握同一類型不同語言的差異性。第四，無法提供好的研究指引。我將提出一個替代方案，這個方案中並沒有類型或參數，有的是各語言對音韻目錄（元音目錄、輔音目錄、聲調目錄等等）的不同選擇。每種選擇都有其特點，而個別語言的整體特徵即來自不同目錄選擇的相互作用。這個方案既簡單、有較好的研究指引，更能對語言差異與通則提供較佳的理解。

Linguists often classify languages into various types. In generative phonology, language typology is usually translated into parameters, such as the parameter for trochaic vs. iambic feet, or the parameter for syllable counting vs. mora counting. Focusing on the typology of tone and non-tone languages, I argue that the typological or parametric approach has four problems. First, it does not offer a clear-cut classification. Second, it does not capture similarities between different language types. Third, it does not capture differences within a given language type. Fourth, it does not offer a good guide for research. As an alternative, I offer a theory in which there is no typology or parameters. Instead, languages differ in their selection of various phonological inventories (vowel inventory, consonant inventory, tonal inventory, etc.). Each inventory selection has a specific set of properties, and the interactions among various inventory selections give the overall properties of a given language. The present theory is simpler, offers a better guide for research, and offers a better understanding of language differences and language universals.