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Complementary distribution

GENERAL: Two elements a and b are in complementary distribution if a, but not b, occurs in those environments where on general grounds we may expect both a and b, while b, but not a occurs in the complementary set of environments.

PHONOLOGY: Complementary distribution is often taken as an indication that two superficially different elements are one and the same at a deeper level. Two sounds /a/ and /b/ are in complementary distribution when one of the two (/a/) occurs in all environments except those in which /b/ occurs and vice versa. EXAMPLE: in English [p] and [ph] are in complementary distribution, since [ph] occurs syllable-initially when it is directly followed by a stressed vowel (cf. pin [phin]), whereas in all other positions [p] is found. In Hindi, however, [p] and [ph] can occur in the same position and are distinctive.