Editorial: Perspectives on Nordic phonology

In this editorial, we first offer a glimpse of the scope and traditions of studying phonology in the Nordic countries and how these are mirrored in the aims of FiNo and the topics presented at its 2020 workshop. We then summarize the individual contributions to the volume, showing how they connect nicely with an overarching frame­work, which we call ‘Autosegmental Metrical Optimality Theory’.

An Optimality Theory-Based Approach into the Phonotactic Constraints of English Spoken by Broadcasters in Nigeria

<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the observations in the English spoken particularly in Nigeria is phonotactic constraints. The constraints pin down the generalization which guide the articulation of sequences of phonemes. The paper examines the patterns of English consonant clusters articulation of Nigerian broadcasters in the onset and coda positions against Received Pronunciation English. The study is conducted within the framework of Optimality Theory (henceforth OT). 20 radio and television broadcasters from 4 electronic media were selected as participants. Data were obtained by means of production test and OT was employed for the analysis. The findings revealed that the participants used epenthetic vowels to break-up consonants clusters in the onset and consonant deletion to simplify clusters in the coda. The subjects’ productions can be captured by ranking Markedness constraints higher than Faithfulness constraints.</p>

Word Stress in Qassimi Arabic: A Constraint-Based Analysis

This study aimed to produce a formalism of word stress in Qassimi Arabic (QA), which is a sub-dialect of Najdi Arabic (NA), using a constraint-based approach. To this end, this paper investigated two main topics: The first topic explored word stress in QA. Word stress in QA, as well as in NA, is predictable; it can be determined by syllable weight and position. However, two cases do not conform to such straightforward stress rules. These cases are represented by the words: [ʔal.ʕa.sˤir] &lsquo;afternoon&rsquo; and [ʔa.ʕa.rif] &lsquo;I know&rsquo;. Derivational analysis of these exceptions shows the importance of relating the surface structures of such forms to their underlying representations. The second topic aimed to make a formalism for stress patterns in QA using optimality theory (OT). Thus, QA word stress rules and their exceptions are translated into conflicting constraints that are ranked relative to one another by the use of constraint-relation tableaux. This ranking eventually produced the following constraint-relation hierarchy: Lx&asymp;Pr, SYLLABLE-INTEGRITY, TROCHAIC, FAITH-PK &gt;&gt; NONFINAL &gt;&gt; *[ʔa. &gt;&gt; FTBIN-&micro;, WSP, ALL-FEET-RIGHT &gt;&gt; MAIN-RIGHT, PARSE-&sigma;.

Resolving meaning conflict in translation: An optimality approach to verse translation

This article proposes an application of Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 1993) to translation analysis, suggesting that the translation process is regulated by a hierarchy of universal yet violable constraints. The constraints are always present but in conflict: strategies are determined by their hierarchy, and a constraint can be violated but only to avoid violation of a more highly-ranked constraint, i.e. a prioritised form of transfer. Optimalist concepts present in the literature are surveyed, and after a series of examples the authors propose that an optimalist approach reveals translators’ strategies and their basis both at a micro- and textual level, a theoretical basis for a multi-layer unit of translation, a cognitive basis for Toury’s two laws of translation, and they suggest that there are no others.

San’ani Arabic Stress in Harmonic Serialism

The word stress system in San&rsquo;ani Arabic exhibits patterns of stress placement that associate some level of prominence with syllables with long vowels and syllables that end in the left-leg of a geminate. The fact that such syllables always succeed in attracting stress away from other non-final CVC syllables, even beyond the final trisyllabic window, clearly indicates the role that underlying moraicity plays in the stress algorithm. The proposed account, offered in this paper for the word stress system in San&rsquo;ani, is couched in Harmonic Serialism, as a serial version of Optimality Theory. Key to the analyses presented is the assumption of gradual prosodification. The distinction drawn between faithful and unfaithful prosodic operations allows for applying some in a parallel fashion, but confines others to serialism. Central to the analysis, as well, is the exceptional case of final stress, which is mainly attributed to the intrinsic prominence of syllables with underlying bimoraic sequences.

Simulation of Vegetation Cover Based on the Theory of Ecohydrological Optimality in the Yongding River Watershed, China

During ecological restoration, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the state of vegetation in climate–soil–vegetation systems. The theory of ecohydrological optimality assumes that this state tends to reach long-term dynamic equilibrium between the available water supply of the system and the water demand of vegetation, which is driven by the maximization of productivity. This study aimed to understand the factors that affect the spatial distribution of vegetation and simulate the ideal vegetation coverage (M0) that a specific climate and soil can maintain under an equilibrium state. The ecohydrological optimality model was applied based on meteorological, soil, and vegetation data during the 2000–2018 growing seasons, and the sensitivity of the simulated results to input data under distinct vegetation and soil conditions was also considered in the Yongding River watershed, China. The results revealed that the average observed vegetation coverage (M) was affected by precipitation characteristic factors, followed by wind speed and relative humidity. The M, as a whole, exhibited horizontal zonal changes from a spatial perspective, with an average value of 0.502, whereas the average M0 was 0.475. The ecohydrological optimality theory ignores the drought resistance measures evolved by vegetation in high vegetation coverage areas and is applicable to simulate the long-term average vegetation coverage that minimizes water stress and maximizes productivity. The differences between M and M0 increased from the northwest to the southeast of this area, with a maximum value exceeding 0.3. Meteorological factors were the most sensitive factors of this model, and the M0 of the steppe was most sensitive to the stem fraction, mean storm depth, and air temperature. Whether soil factors are sensitive depends on soil texture. Overall, the study of the carrying capacity of vegetation in the natural environment contributes to providing new insights into vegetation restoration and the conservation of water resources.

Gradual Vowel Epenthesis in Urban Hijazi Arabic

In this paper, vowel epenthesis in Urban Hijazi Arabic is analysed as a process of gradual structural build-up. Harmonic Serialism, a derivational framework of Optimality Theory, provides the theoretical foundation to illustrate the arguments. Rather than epenthesising an entire vowel all at once, featural structure progressively increases in successive steps. This accumulation continues until the required vowel quality is achieved. Specifically, the constraint hierarchy predicts high epenthetic vowels to occur in closed syllables and the low epenthetic vowel in open syllables. The same constraint hierarchy, however, is also expected to predict both gradual epenthesis and gradual deletion. In that regard, a seemingly paradoxical situation is created when the very same intermediate vowel quality is achieved through accumulation or attrition of featural structure. This particular vowel quality, in exactly the same environment, will have to continue gaining internal structure towards epenthesis or continue losing internal structure towards deletion. Eventually, identifying the path that the derivation takes to reach a certain vowel will help to resolve the issue.

Phonological Analysis of Errors in the Consonant Cluster System Encountered by Saudi EFL Learners

This study investigates the pronunciation difficulty of selected English consonant clusters (CCs) encountered by Saudi EFL learners. The sample consisted of 134 female Saudi EFL students in their freshman year in the English Department at Najran University. Two instruments were used: a pronunciation test that assessed participants’ CC pronunciations in the onset and coda positions and a questionnaire that explored participants’ attitudes towards their CC pronunciations. This study provides detailed data on the participants’ pronunciation difficulties using Optimality Theory (OT). The results showed that the participants encountered CC pronunciation difficulties in both the onset and coda positions. However, most errors occurred in the coda position, especially for the four-consonant pattern (-CCCC). Participants used different strategies to simplify their CC pronunciations: epenthesis, deletion, substitution, or some combination thereof. Questionnaire data indicated that the participants attributed their pronunciation difficulties to inadequate knowledge of the pronunciation rules, insufficient language instruction, and native-language influence. The participants proffered some remedies to their difficulties, which included doing more pronunciation drills and offering a new course focused primarily on correct pronunciation. OT analysis revealed that onset clusters were mainly influenced by L1 ranking constraints whereas coda clusters were more influenced by universal Markedness constraints. OT indicated that the tendency to satisfy Markedness constraints over the Faithfulness constraints led the participants to use the above-mentioned simplification strategies.

Optimality Theoretical Approach in Resolving Vocalic Hiatus in Tiv Language

This paper investigates vocalic hiatus resolution strategies in Tiv language. Hiatus is a phonological phenomenon whereby two vowel sounds occur in adjacent syllables with no intervening consonant. It is a dispreferred configuration in many languages but when it inevitably occurs, it is resolved through some of these strategies: epenthesis, vowel assimilation, vowel elision, secondary articulation, vowel coalescence, glide formation and diphthongization. Though there are other hiatus resolution strategies in Tiv, for want of time and space, this paper examines the most common ones: vowel assimilation and vowel elision, as hiatus resolution/repair strategies in Tiv, through the lenses of the Optimality Theory. It adopts a descriptive and analytical research design. The intuitive phonological ability of the researcher and oral interview through purposive sampling were used for eliciting data. Data were presented and analysed in tables. The study establishes the occurrence of vowel hiatus in Tiv. It demonstrates that vocalic hiatus is dispreferred in Tiv as it is in many other languages of the world. The study has shown that Tiv utilises inter-alia vowel assimilation and vowel elision to resolve vowel hiatus. The resolution is meant to ease articulation of Tiv words. Well-formedness of vowel configurations in Tiv was found to be constraint based in which case optimality of a candidate that undergoes repairs through either vowel assimilation or elision is determined by the ranking of the universal constraints that interact in the selection of candidates.