intrinsic (adj.)

(1) A term used in GENERATIVE GRAMMAR, referring to a type of CONSTRAINT imposed on the ORDERING of RULES (as opposed to a CONDITION where such rules are allowed to apply in a random order). An intrinsic ordering is one where the FORMAL or logical properties of a SYSTEM of rules dictate the SEQUENCE in which the rules apply: one rule (B) cannot apply until after another rule (A) has operated, because A supplies B with the properties B needs for its operation. Intrinsic ordering is opposed to EXTRINSIC ordering, where the order of application is not motivated by such considerations of formal consistency; the rules could logically occur in any order, but some ordering has to be imposed (taking into account the DATA of the LANGUAGE) in order for a correct output to emerge.

(2) A term used in PHONETICS and PHONOLOGY to refer to a property of sound which is thought to be crucial to the identity of a CONTRAST. A SEGMENT of a particular type must have the property before it can be perceived to belong to that type. For example, a tiny amount of friction follows the release of a STOP consonant, but as the DURATION of this friction exceeds a certain minimal amount, so the segment will be perceived as an AFFRICATE; a longer duration will lead to its perception as a FRICATIVE. Such examples of intrinsic duration can also be found in VOWELS, where LOW vowels are intrinsically longer than HIGH vowels. Intrinsic pitch relates to high vowels having a higher PITCH than low vowels.