<OT> New Posting: ROA-710

[roa at ruccs.rutgers.edu]

ROA 710-0105

Systemic markedness and faithfulness

Armin Mester <mester at ling.ucsc.edu>
Junko Ito <ito at ling.ucsc.edu>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=710


Abstract:
Phonological patterns, whether viewed synchronically or
as they change over time, can be explained only with reference
to the larger system of oppositions that they are part of.
This paper explores the development of sibilants and front
glides before front vowels in the historical phonology of
Japanese. Taking up recent work in Dispersion Theory (Flemming,
Padgett), the guiding idea is that the computation of wellformedn
ess for individual items in OT has an irreducible systemic
component in terms of both markedness and faithfulness,
including constraints that require oppositions to be maintained,
and to be perceptually robust.

Comments: To appear in CLS 39
Keywords: Palatalization, historical phonology, Japanese, contrast
Areas: Phonology
Type: Manuscript

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=710