<OT> New Posting: ROA-770

[roa at ruccs.rutgers.edu]

ROA 770-0805

Transparency in Span Theory

Michael O'Keefe <mcokeefe at eden.rutgers.edu>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=770


Abstract:
This paper offers a solution to the issue of transparency
in harmony systems.  In keeping with much previous work,
it argues that the least marked state is that in which all
segments in the domain of harmony agree in the harmonizing
feature.  Domain-internal disagreement in feature values
is possible only when motivated by markedness. As the abstract
structure producing harmony is a domain rather than an autosegmen
tal unit, violability of harmonic association is available.
Thus, this account proposes that 'skipping' is permitted
when motivated by other factors.  The analysis is set within
Span Theory (McCarthy 2004) and formally captures the pattern
by allowing violability of association with span heads via
the ASSOCIATEHEAD family of constraints.

Comments: To appear in Leah Bateman, Adam Werle, Michael O'Keefe, and Ehren Reilly, eds., University of Massachusetts Occasional Papers in Linguistics 33: Papers in Optimality Theory 3. Amherst, MA: GLSA.
Keywords: vowel harmony, transparency, Span Theory
Areas: Phonology
Type: Manuscript

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=770