<OT> New Posting: ROA-591

[Rutgers Optimality Archive]

ROA 591-0403

Sonority Driven Reduction

Katherine Crosswhite <crosswhi@ling.rochester.edu>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=591


Abstract:
In this paper, I present an analysis for a class of sonority-
decreasing vowel reduction phenomena. I present empirical 
evidence showing that in such systems, the 'desirability' of an 
unstressed vowel is predicted by its sonority: high sonority 
unstressed vowels like [a] are considered worse than medium 
sonority unstressed vowels (like [e]). I present an OT analysis using 
prominence-alignment constraints similar to those employed by 
Kenstowicz (1994) for sonority-driven stress.

Keywords: vowel reduction, sonority, prominence-alignment

Areas: Phonology

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=591