Vowel deletion as mora usurpation: the case of Yine

Phonology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Theory Model ◽  
Phonological Information ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
Underlying Representation ◽  
Vowel Deletion

Vowel deletion in Yine crucially refers to both morphological and phonological information. It has been argued that the process is only analysable in a theory where the phonology has access to morphology, either on the assumption of different morphological domains of constraint evaluation (Lin 1987, 1997a, b) or on the assumption of morphologically indexed optimality-theoretic constraints (Pater 2009). In contrast, I propose a phonological analysis of vowel deletion in Yine in a parallel Optimality Theory model. The phonology, I assume, has only limited access to morphological information, and can only distinguish between affix and stem material. I argue that the morphemes that trigger deletion of a preceding vowel have a defective underlying representation: they lack a mora, and ‘usurp’ the mora of a preceding vowel.

The unfolding of suprasegmental representations: a cross-linguistic perspective

1996 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Berg ◽  
Hassan Abd-El-Jawad
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Speech Errors ◽  
Phonological Information ◽  
Underlying Representation ◽  
Structure Sensitive ◽  
Nonconcatenative Morphology ◽  
Hierarchical Representations

An analysis of phonological speech errors in Arabic, English and German is carried out with a view to probing into the organization of segments within syllables and words. Arabic slips are shown to be less structure-sensitive than English and German ones. Being absent from underlying representation, suprasegmental structures are assumed to unfold gradually in real time. The erection of hierarchical representations is claimed to be slower in Arabic than in English and German because the nonconcatenative morphology of Arabic prevents an early assignment of consonants to structural slots. In contrast, English and German words allow the early build-up of hierarchical structures because sufficient phonological information is available from the beginning of the derivation.

scholarly journals The Quranic Conditionally Pharyngealized Sounds: An Optimality Theory Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Abdullah Almousa ◽  
Faisal M. Al-Mohanna
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
Underlying Representation ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Theory Framework

This paper investigates the Qur’ānic conditionally pharyngealized sounds which are /rʕ/, /l/, and /a:/. The Qur’ānic /rʕ/ sound undergoes a depharyngealization process. The Qur’ānic /l/ sound in the word Allah, on the other hand, exhibits pharyngealization, as does the Qur’ānic /a:/ sound. Hence, the study aims to provide a thorough examination of these phonological processes within the Optimality Theory framework. The study also attempts to answer the following questions: (1) What constraints are considered to account for the pharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sounds /l/ and /a:/ and the depharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sound /rʕ/ in the Holy Qur’ān? and (2) How does the grammar rank these constraints to achieve the pharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sounds /l/ and /a:/ and the depharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sound /rʕ/ in the Holy Qur’ān? Both questions have been fully addressed. In addition, this study has proven that the pharyngealized /rʕ/ is the underlying representation of the Qur’ānic alveolar trill sound. This was achieved by demonstrating [rʕ] and [r] allophones environments. Also, the study has shown that the pharyngealized [lʕ] and the non-pharyngealized [l] in the word Allah are comparable to the dark /l/ in English. The Qur’anic /a:/ acquires the [RTR] feature from the preceding pharyngealized sound where it spreads its [RTR] feature rightward to the /a:/. The study concludes that the constraint-based analysis could provide a plausible accounted for examining these phonological processes in the Holy Qur’ān.

scholarly journals The Quranic Conditionally Pharyngealized Sounds: An Optimality Theory Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-150
Author(s):  
Fatima Abdullah Almousa ◽  
Faisal Muhammad Al-Mohanna
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
Underlying Representation ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Theory Framework

This paper investigates the Qur’ānic conditionally pharyngealized sounds which are /rʕ/, /l/, and /a:/. The Qur’ānic /rʕ/ sound undergoes a depharyngealization process. The Qur’ānic /l/ sound in the word Allah, on the other hand, exhibits pharyngealization, as does the Qur’ānic /a:/ sound. Hence, the study aims to provide a thorough examination of these phonological processes within the Optimality Theory framework. The study also attempts to answer the following questions: (1) What constraints are considered to account for the pharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sounds /l/ and /a:/ and the depharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sound /rʕ/ in the Holy Qur’ān? and (2) How does the grammar rank these constraints to achieve the pharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sounds /l/ and /a:/ and the depharyngealization of the Qur’ānic sound /rʕ/ in the Holy Qur’ān? Both questions have been fully addressed. In addition, this study has proven that the pharyngealized /rʕ/ is the underlying representation of the Qur’ānic alveolar trill sound. This was achieved by demonstrating [rʕ] and [r] allophones environments. Also, the study has shown that the pharyngealized [lʕ] and the non-pharyngealized [l] in the word Allah are comparable to the dark /l/ in English. The Qur’anic /a:/ acquires the [RTR] feature from the preceding pharyngealized sound where it spreads its [RTR] feature rightward to the /a:/. The study concludes that the constraint-based analysis could provide a plausible accounted for examining these phonological processes in the Holy Qur’ān.

scholarly journals An Optimality Analysis of the Phonology of French Loanwords as Manifested in the Eastern Part of Algeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Sara Kessar ◽  
Radwan S. Mahadin
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Front Vowel ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
Nasal Vowels ◽  
Vowel Raising ◽  
Place Assimilation ◽  
Vowel Deletion ◽  
Spoken Arabic ◽  
Phonological System

The present study sheds lights on the French loanwords which are integrated in the Algerian Spoken Arabic (ASA), particularly the dialect spoken in the Eastern part. It identifies the phonological processes used to adapt them within an Optimality Theory (OT) framework. A thorough scrutiny of the data indicated that the French loanwords underwent a number of adaptations to fit into the phonological system of the Algerian Arabic. Moreover, the results revealed that this nativization process involves a number of phonological processes, namely unpacking of nasal vowels, nasal place assimilation, vowel deletion, front vowel raising, voicing, devoicing and stopping, in addition to lateral assimilation. The application of optimality framework as to explicate the adaptations of French loanwords has shown that they emanate from a steady conflict between the faithfulness constraints, which condition the preservation of original input forms, and the markedness constraints describing the Algerian Arabic marked phonological system.

Phonology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Bird ◽  
Jeffrey Heinz
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Computational Learning ◽  
Phonological Information ◽  
Computational Phonology ◽  
Autosegmental Phonology ◽  
Phonological Features ◽  
Finite State

Phonology is the systematic study of the sounds used in language, their internal structure, and their composition into syllables, words, and phrases. Computational phonology is the application of formal and computational techniques to the representation and processing of phonological information. This chapter presents the fundamentals of phonology along with an overview of computational phonology. Fundamentals discussed include phonological features, phonemes, early generative grammar, autosegmental phonology, syllable structure, and optimality theory. Finite-state machines, attribute-value matrices, computational learning methods, and existing software toolkits round out the discussion on comptuational phonology.

scholarly journals The gradual path to cluster simplification

Phonology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Consonant Cluster ◽  
Surface Representation ◽  
Underlying Representation ◽  
Harmonic Serialism ◽  
Final Output ◽  
Place Assimilation

When a medial consonant cluster is simplified by deletion or place assimilation, the first consonant is affected, but never the second one: /patka/ becomes [paka] and not *[pata]; /panpa/ becomes [pampa] and not [panta]. This article accounts for that observation within a derivational version of Optimality Theory called Harmonic Serialism. In Harmonic Serialism, the final output is reached by a series of derivational steps that gradually improve harmony. If there is no gradual, harmonically improving path from a given underlying representation to a given surface representation, this mapping is impossible in Harmonic Serialism, even if it would be allowed in classic Optimality Theory. In cluster simplification, deletion or Place assimilation is the second step in a derivation that begins with deleting Place features, and deleting Place features improves harmony only in coda position.

scholarly journals Strength-based faithfulness and the sibilant /s/ in Italian

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-53
Author(s):  
Antonio Baroni
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Consonant Clusters ◽  
Underlying Representation ◽  
Strength Based ◽  
Casual Speech

Abstract Notwithstanding the primacy of the CV syllable, a number of languages allow for more complex types of syllables. In particular, word-initial consonant clusters are particularly challenging for any phonological theory. In this paper it is argued that obstruent clusters may be the result of casual speech processes where the most salient/ frequent phonemes and features occurring in most pronunciation variants of a word are preserved. As a result, sibilants, being acoustically salient, tend to occur more often than other obstruents as the first member of word-initial obstruent clusters. A framework couched in Optimality Theory is presented, where a subfamily of faithfulness constraints refer to strength values stored in the underlying representation. The more salient and/or frequent a phoneme/feature is, the higher the strength value assigned to it. Finally, a number of languages are compared, arguing that their phonotactic differences may be due to the different ranking of markedness constraints and MAX-STRENGTHVALUE constraints.

scholarly journals An Optimality Theory Account Of English Loanwords In Pilibhit Hindi-Urdu (Uttar Pradesh) India

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5C) ◽  
pp. 758-765
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Physical Mechanism ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Conflict Situation ◽  
Consonant Cluster ◽  
Phonological Information ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Powerful Mechanism ◽  
Theoretical Developments

This paper contains the English Loanwords and their physical mechanism in Pilibhit Hind-Urdu that generalizes the different types of interchanging accounts of phonemes. The purpose of this paper is to present an account of English loanwords and their intervention in Urdu spoken in Pilibhit (U.P.), India within a framework of Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky, 1993). The groundwork of this study lead towards basically describe the facts and proposes theoretical account of alteration of phonemes in English Loanwords and how the native speakers of Pilibhit Hindi-Urdu substitute and break consonant cluster and use in communication. There are many conflicts in the intervention of phonemes as deletion, insertion, voicing, devoicing, assimilation, aspiration, deaspiration etc of English loanwords in Pilibhit Hindi-Urdu. We propose that such conflicts can be resolve by using Optimality Theoretic ranking of constraints and find out proper language specific facts expressed with parameters. This not only makes the grammar simpler, but it also allows the lower ranked constraints to have an effect in a non-conflict situation. This paper is about the nature of loanwords and more specially, the proper relationship between phonemes and candidate sets within the framework of Optimality Theory. We shall argue that the phonological information of phoneme is the best encoded in constraints rather than in representations. In this paper we examine some of the better-known arguments originally adduce in support of constraint rankings and argue that adoption of loanwords such a powerful mechanism and justified with proper evidence that create some effective processes at least in the cases discuses. Theoretical insights from OT enrich our understanding of Hindi-Urdu phonology, and data also reveal implicit figure prominently in the latest theoretical developments within OT.

Predicted and observed multidecadal variations of tree physiological responses to climate and rising  CO2: insights from tree-ring carbon isotopes in temperate forests.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumaya Belmecheri ◽  
R. Stockton Maxwell ◽  
Alan. H Taylor ◽  
Kenneth. J Davis ◽  
Rossella Guerrieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Temperate Forests ◽  
Carbon Sink ◽  
Theory Model ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Terrestrial Vegetation

<p>Increasing water-use efficiency (WUE), the ratio of carbon gain to water loss, is a key mechanism that enhances carbon uptake by terrestrial vegetation under rising atmospheric CO<sub>2 </sub>(c<sub>a</sub>). Existing theory and empirical evidence suggest a proportional increase of WUE in response to rising c<sub>a</sub> as plants maintain a relatively constant ratio between the leaf internal (c<sub>i</sub>) and ambient (c<sub>a</sub>) partial CO<sub>2</sub> pressure (c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a</sub>). This has been hypothesized as the main driver of the strengthening of the terrestrial carbon sink over the recent decades. However, proportionality may not characterize CO<sub>2</sub> effects on WUE on longer time-scales and the role of climate in modulating these effects is uncertain. We evaluated the long-term WUE responses to c<sub>a</sub> and climate from 1901-2012 CE by reconstructing intrinsic WUE (iWUE, the ratio of photosynthesis to stomatal conductance) using carbon isotopes in tree rings across temperate forests in the northeastern USA. We further replicated iWUE reconstructions at eight additional sites for the 1992-2012 period-overlapping with the common period of the longest flux-tower record at Harvard Forest to evaluate the spatial coherence of recent iWUE variation across the region. Finally, we compared tree-ring based and modelled c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a</sub> over the 1901-2012 period to examine whether temporal patterns of c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a</sub> reconstructions are consistent with predictions based on the optimality principle of balancing the costs of water loss and carbon gain.</p><p>We found that iWUE increased steadily from 1901 to 1975 CE but remained constant thereafter despite continuously rising c<sub>a</sub>. This finding is consistent with a passive physiological response to c<sub>a</sub> and coincides with a shift to significantly wetter conditions across the region. Tree physiology was driven by summer moisture at multi-decadal time-scales and did not maintain a constant c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a </sub>in response to rising c<sub>a</sub> indicating that a point was reached where rising CO<sub>2</sub> had a diminishing effect on tree iWUE.  The c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a</sub> derived from tree-ring d<sup>13</sup>C and the predicted values based on the optimality theory model had similar median values over the 1901-2012 CE period, though with a modest agreement (R<sup>2</sup><sub>adj </sub>= 0.22, p < 0.001). The reconstructed and predicted c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a </sub>trends were not statistically different from 0 when estimated over the 1901-2012 CE period; however, isotope-based reconstruction of the c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a </sub>trend<sub></sub>showed distinct multidecadal variation while the predicted c<sub>i</sub>/c<sub>a </sub>remained nearly constant. Our results challenge the mechanism, magnitude, and persistence of CO<sub>2</sub>’s effect on iWUE with significant implications for projections of terrestrial productivity under a changing climate.</p>

scholarly journals FINAL-NASAL DELETION IN AKAN (ASANTE TWI) REDUPLICATION

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Kwasi Adomako
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Final Position ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
Underlying Representation ◽  
Theory Framework

In this paper, I examine the phenomenon of reduplicant-nasal deletion observed in some reduplicative prefixes of Akan (a Niger-Congo, Kwa language). In the Akan phonology, nasals are among non-vowel sonorants that are permitted syllable or word-finally (Dolphyne 1988, Abakah 2005). However, it is observed that these nasals, particularly [m], are sometimes deleted in some reduplicants final position. In this paper, I show that verb bases of CVN or CVVN structures are of two different morphemic structures in the underlying representation; monomorphemic verb base and bimorphemic verb base. The latter structure, on which this paper focuses, has the composition: morpheme1 + morpheme2. It is observed that while the former preserve their ‘final’ nasals in the reduplicants, the latter lose them in their reduplicants.  We analyse this phonological phenomenon as resulting from the language’s desire to satisfy a high-ranking template satisfaction constraint (after McCarthy and Prince 1994a) within the Optimality Theory framework. Keywords: Nasal deletion, Akan, reduplication, Optimality Theory, phonology.

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