<OT> New Posting: ROA-769

[roa at ruccs.rutgers.edu]

ROA 769-0805

Voicing contrast: licensed by prosody or licensed by cue?

Max Wheeler <m.w.wheeler at sussex.ac.uk>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=769


Abstract:
In recent phonological work two approaches to neutralization
have been developed, labelled licensing by prosody and licensing
by cue (Steriade 1997). The licensing-by-prosody approach
is developed by Beckman (1998) and Lombardi (1999, 2001).
The central element is the universal difference between
onsets and codas when it comes to realizing consonantal
contrasts. Contrasts that may be realized in onsets may
be neutralized in codas.


The licensing by-cue-approach is developed by Steriade (1997,
1999). This approach bases constraints licensing specific
features not just on hierarchies derived from cross-linguistic
typologies, but more specifically on differences in perceptual
cues to be found in different phonetic contexts.


The licensing-by-cue approach is attractive since it seeks
to explain the differential distribution of phonetic properties
such as voicing directly in terms of the articulatory and
perceptual characteristics of different phonetic environments.
Licensing by prosody appeals rather to elements of prosodic
organization --specifically, syllable structure-- which
is held to be psychologically real, but only indirectly
manifest in the stream of speech. Steriade asks (1997: 50)
'what would count as genuine evidence for syllable-final
devoicing?' She goes on: 'The simple answer is: any system
that allows us to compare voicing maintenance in onset O[bstruent
]R [=sonorant] sequences with voicing neutralization in
heterosyllabic O.R. Thus the hypothetical language ... distinguis
hes voiced obstruents in the OR sequences functioning as
onsets, but neutralizes voicing in every other obstruent-C
sequence, including in heterosyllabic O[.]R.'


I show that Catalan is a language that provides such evidence,
as Steriade suspected. The conclusion is that the theoretical
option of licensing by prosody, in the case of voicing contrasts,
must be retained.

Comments: Paper delivered at 13th Manchester Phonology Meeting, May 2005
Keywords: voicing contrast, neutralization, final devoicing, licensing-by-prosody, licensing-by cue, Catalan
Areas: Phonology
Type: Manuscript

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=769