jelkülönbségtétel

Jelkulonbsegtetel, often translated as "signal difference theorem" or "sign difference theorem," refers to a principle in certain fields of linguistics, particularly in historical linguistics and phonology. It describes a potential pathway for sound changes where a sound initially contrasts with another based on a specific distinctive feature, but over time, this contrast shifts, and the opposite value of that feature becomes the distinguishing factor.

For instance, consider a scenario where a language initially distinguishes between a voiced and an unvoiced consonant. If a "jelkulonbsegtetel" occurs, it might mean that this initial voiced/unvoiced distinction evolves. Perhaps the initially unvoiced sound becomes voiced, and the initially voiced sound becomes unvoiced, effectively flipping the feature that created the distinction. Alternatively, the feature itself might change, or the contrast might be reinterpreted based on a different phonetic property.

This phenomenon is not a universally observed law but rather a descriptive model that can help explain certain patterns of sound evolution. It suggests that the underlying phonetic features driving contrasts can be dynamic and subject to change. Understanding this concept requires an appreciation of phonetics and the systematic nature of sound change within language. It is a theoretical tool for analyzing historical sound shifts rather than a definitive rule of linguistic evolution.