<OT> New Posting: ROA-761

[roa at ruccs.rutgers.edu]

ROA 761-0705

Meaningful Variability: A Sociolinguistically-Grounded Approach to Variation in Optimality Theory

Juan Antonio Cutillas Espinosa <jacuti at um.es>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=761


Abstract:
Most approaches to variability in Optimality Theory have
attempted to make variation possible within the OT framework,
i.e. to reformulate constraints and rankings to accommodate
variable and gradient linguistic facts. Sociolinguists have
attempted to apply these theoretical advances to the study
of language variation, with an emphasis on language-internal
variables (Auger 2001, Cardoso 2001). Little attention has
been paid to the array of external factors that influence
the patterning of variation. In this paper, we argue that
some variation patterns -- specially those that are socially
meaningful -- are actually the result of a three-grammar
system. G1 is the standard grammar, which has to be available
to the speaker to obtain these variation patterns. G3 is
the vernacular grammar, which the speaker is likely to have
acquired in his local community. Finally, G2 is an intergrammar,
which is used by the speaker as his 'default' constraint
set. G2 is a continuous ranking (Boersma & Hayes 2001) and
domination relations are consciously altered by the speakers
to shape the appropriate and variable linguistic output.
We illustrate this model with analyses of English and Spanish.

Comments: Published in 'Advances in Optimality Theory', a monograph issue of the International Journal of English Studies (IJES), 4.2, December 2004, edited by Paul Boersma and Juan Antonio Cutillas
Keywords: Variability, Sociolinguistics, External Factors, Continuous Ranking, Three-Grammar System.
Areas: Phonology,Sociolinguistics
Type: Journal Article

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=761