<OT> New Posting: ROA-901

[Rutgers Optimality Archive]

ROA 901-0207

Andalusian Vowel Harmony: Weak Triggers and Perceptibility

Jesus Jimenez <jesus.jimenez at uv.es>
Maria-Rosa Lloret <mrosa.lloret at ub.edu>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=901


Abstract:
Eastern Andalusian Spanish Vowel Harmony takes place in
words ending in /s/, where final /s/ weakens as [h] or deletes
completely. Both processes induce opening of the preceding
final vowels and further fronting of /a/. In addition to
that, the [RTR] feature of these final vowels (raised through
assimilation of the [spread glottis] and [coronal] features
of /s/; cf. Vaux 1998, Gerfen 2002) spreads leftwards to
non-high vowels, obligatorily up to the stressed vowel and
optionally up to the initial vowel of the word. Posttonic
medial non-high vowels may also be affected. In this paper
we analyze these facts under Walker (2006)'s Generalized
Licensing view and claim for the gradual nature of licensing
requirements.

Comments: Handout: Workshop on 'Harmony in the Languages of the
Mediterranean', at 4th Old-World Conference in Phonology (Rhodes,
January 18-21 2007)
Keywords: Vowel Harmony, Licensing, Weak triggers, Perceptibility,
Andalusian Spanish
Areas: Phonology
Type: Conference Handout

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=901