The working relation between phonetics and phonology︰bidirectional
Phonetics informs phonology
Phonology informs phonetics
By pinpointing and defining the problem
Structure-first research
Discover generalizations
Hypothesize possible motivations
Seek evidence to support hypotheses
Phonetic approach
Phonological approach
Application of structure-first research in Thlantlang Lai
Generalization: Non-final contour simplification
Two hypotheses (possible motivations) and related evidence
Duration of a syllable, which is sensitive to position, conditions its tone-bearing ability
Evidence from realizations of Standard Beijing Mandarin Third Tone
Presentation of the tones by syllable structure reject the hypothesis
Tonally induced changes tend to minimize the number of ups and downs over a given stretch
Two factors conditioning the realization of contour tone
Perceptibility
Articulatory complexity
Arrange the two factors to illustrate the typology of the realization of contour tone in three Lai varieties
Present data from Thlantlang Lai and Falam Lai to prove the hypothesis
