<OT> New Posting: ROA-649

[roa at ruccs.rutgers.edu]

ROA 649-0304

Deriving consonant cluster phonotactics: Evidence from Singapore English

Arto Anttila <arto.anttila at nyu.edu>
Vivienne Fong <vivienne.fong at nyu.edu>
Stefan Benus <sb513 at nyu.edu>
Jennifer Nycz <jrn218 at nyu.edu>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=649


Abstract:
Singapore English exhibits consonant cluster processes that
fall into three types: vowel epenthesis, consonant reordering
(metathesis, copy), and consonant lenition (fricativization,
place assimilation, deletion). These processes are remarkable
in two ways: they occur in systematic free variation within
and across individuals, and they result in systematic opacity:
epenthesis is opacified by reordering, which is opacified
by lenition. We present two main findings. First, we provide
evidence that segment reordering arises through the interaction
of perceptual constraints and Output-Output Faithfulness.
Second, we examine several optimality-theoretic approaches
to opacity (Output-Output Faithfulness, Comparative Markedness,
Stratal Optimality Theory) and conclude that none of them
covers all aspects of the problem.


Comments: 
Keywords: consonant clusters, variation, opacity, Singapore English
Areas: Phonology
Type: Manuscript

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=649