<OT> New Posting: ROA-719

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ROA 719-0305

Input 'Clusters' and Contrast Preservation in OT

Anne-Michelle Tessier <tessier at linguist.umass.edu>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=719


Abstract:
The starting point of this paper is the Contrast Preservation
Theory (PCT) of Lubowicz (2002), and its novel approach
to phonological opacity in OT. A core claim of PCT is that
various opaque mappings, which have been problematic in
OT, can be readily explained as the effect of systemic contrast
preservation. Thus, PCT is an OT model which evaluates not
only the Markedness and Faitfhfulness of its candidates,
but also their preservation of phonological contrasts. To
do so, the EVAL component of PC theory assesses multiple
input forms, in an input scenario.

The goal of this paper is to provide an alternative to scenarios,
which still captures the contrast-preserving patterns suggested
by PCT. My alternative is a grammar-based algorithm that
builds finite, language-specific sets of input forms called
input clusters. In building clusters, the algorithm relies
crucially on the existing core of OT: the language-specific
ranking of Markedness and Faithfulness constraints, and
the decision-making powers of EVAL. Working loosely within
the framework of PCT, I use the algorithm and its resulting
clusters to analyze a derived environment effect (one opaque
pattern explained under PCT). The success of this analysis
provides initial support for the algorithm, and for the
broader claim that such an algorithm�s clusters will contain
all the input forms necessary to capture contrast-preserving
opacity.

After the introduction, section 2 provides some minimal
theoretical background on PCT and its notion of input scenarios,
and in section 3 I propose my cluster-building algorithm.
Section 4 introduces the derived environment effect (DEE),
and uses data from a Campidanian Sardinian DEE to demonstrate
how the algorithm builds clusters. Section 5 puts those
clusters to work in the analysis of Campidanian Sardinian,
using a contrast-preserving constraint based on those of
Lubowicz (2002). The last section summarizes the results,
and raises questions for future work.

Comments: To appear in B. Schmeiser, V. Chand, A. Kelleher and A. Rodriguez [eds.] Proceedings of WCCFL23, UC Davis. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.
Keywords: Contrast Preservation Theory, multiple inputs, input scenarios, opacity, derived environment effects, Campidanian Sardinian
Areas: Phonology, Formal Analysis
Type: Conference Proceedings Chapter

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=719