<OT> New Posting: ROA-832

[roa at ruccs.rutgers.edu]

ROA 832-0506

Variability and minimalism: /R/ in a stratal grammar

Eric Russell Webb <erussell at ucdavis.edu>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=832


Abstract:
Optimality Theory (OT, Prince & Smolensky 1993) provides
that the source of language specificity is a ranking of
violable constraints and denies that linguistic idiosyncrasies
may be attributed to the lexicon according to the Richness
of the Base (ROTB).  Segments like the French dorsal /R/
are particularly interesting, given apparent featural minimalism
and sensitivity to phonetically-based constraints (Tranel
1987: 141-143, Russell Webb 2004, in press & forthcoming).
The present work reexamines this segment, questioning base
richness, the nature of input and the learning of phonological
representations.  A stratal grammatical model is proposed,
incorporating a restrictive interpretation of ROTB, recast
as a theoretical imperative operating at a declarative grammatica
l stratum.
The paper proceeds as follows.  Preliminary sections review
data relevant to French /R/, ROTB and the status of input
in OT.  A third section reviews recent work advocating emergent
features, calling into question the nature of phonological
inputs and the learning of underlying representations (UR)
and licensing implications.  A fourth section articulates
the proposed model, accounting for French /R/ in learning,
declarative and productive sub-modules.  A final section
provides synthesis and draws preliminary conclusions.

Comments: Manuscript: comments welcome
Keywords: richness of the base, input, R, rhotic
Areas: Phonology
Type: Manuscript

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=832