Schwa at the phonology/syntax interface
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Michael L. Mazzola
Abstract
It is claimed in this paper that the well known incongruence between the phonology and the syntax is resolved by removing syntactic boundaries by means of the rhythmic patterning. Resulting from this is a direct interface between the phonological phrasing and the syntax. The intermediary of the prosodic component is thereby eliminated. Accordingly, it is emphasized that language is rhythmic and that the rhythm of any given language directly interprets the syntactic constituency. The instrument by which this is achieved is the rhythmic foot, which contravenes the syntactic constituency directly and restructures it to align it with the rhythmic patterning. In contrast to Nespor (1990), therefore, this approach takes into account no separation between the prosody and rhythm. As a result, it limits the need for pre-compiled rules as proposed by Hayes (1990). Especially targeted in relation to this discussion is the behavior of French schwa.
Abstract
It is claimed in this paper that the well known incongruence between the phonology and the syntax is resolved by removing syntactic boundaries by means of the rhythmic patterning. Resulting from this is a direct interface between the phonological phrasing and the syntax. The intermediary of the prosodic component is thereby eliminated. Accordingly, it is emphasized that language is rhythmic and that the rhythm of any given language directly interprets the syntactic constituency. The instrument by which this is achieved is the rhythmic foot, which contravenes the syntactic constituency directly and restructures it to align it with the rhythmic patterning. In contrast to Nespor (1990), therefore, this approach takes into account no separation between the prosody and rhythm. As a result, it limits the need for pre-compiled rules as proposed by Hayes (1990). Especially targeted in relation to this discussion is the behavior of French schwa.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and Acknowledgments vii
- Editors’ introduction 1
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Part I. Sound patterns
- Sibilant voicing assimilation in peninsular Spanish as gestural blending 17
- Phonology-morphology opacity in Harmonic Serialism 39
- Morphologically conditioned intervocalic rhotacism in Algherese Catalan 63
- Muta cum liquida in the light of Tertenia Sardinian metathesis and compensatory lengthening Latin tr > Old French Vrr 77
- Schwa at the phonology/syntax interface 101
- Weight effects across verbal domains 119
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Part II. Syntax and semantics
- On truth persistence 135
- Pick some but not all alternatives! 155
- Polarity fronting in Romanian and Sardinian 173
- Degree quantification and scope in Puerto Rican Spanish 199
- ‘Minimal link constraint’ violations 213
- On subjunctives and islandhood 233
- When control can’t be a fact 255
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Part III. Historical aspects
- Prevocalic velar advancement in Chilean Spanish and Proto-Romance 277
- The role of the copula in the diachronic development of focus constructions in Portuguese 297
- The French wh interrogative system 315
- On the relation between functional architecture and patterns of change in Romance object clitic syntax 331
-
Part IV. Interactions across dialects and languages
- Investigating the effects of perceptual salience and regional dialect on phonetic accommodation in Spanish 351
- English questions, Spanish structure 379
- French oral proficiency assessment 401
- Name index 417
- Subject index 423
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and Acknowledgments vii
- Editors’ introduction 1
-
Part I. Sound patterns
- Sibilant voicing assimilation in peninsular Spanish as gestural blending 17
- Phonology-morphology opacity in Harmonic Serialism 39
- Morphologically conditioned intervocalic rhotacism in Algherese Catalan 63
- Muta cum liquida in the light of Tertenia Sardinian metathesis and compensatory lengthening Latin tr > Old French Vrr 77
- Schwa at the phonology/syntax interface 101
- Weight effects across verbal domains 119
-
Part II. Syntax and semantics
- On truth persistence 135
- Pick some but not all alternatives! 155
- Polarity fronting in Romanian and Sardinian 173
- Degree quantification and scope in Puerto Rican Spanish 199
- ‘Minimal link constraint’ violations 213
- On subjunctives and islandhood 233
- When control can’t be a fact 255
-
Part III. Historical aspects
- Prevocalic velar advancement in Chilean Spanish and Proto-Romance 277
- The role of the copula in the diachronic development of focus constructions in Portuguese 297
- The French wh interrogative system 315
- On the relation between functional architecture and patterns of change in Romance object clitic syntax 331
-
Part IV. Interactions across dialects and languages
- Investigating the effects of perceptual salience and regional dialect on phonetic accommodation in Spanish 351
- English questions, Spanish structure 379
- French oral proficiency assessment 401
- Name index 417
- Subject index 423
