Optimality-theoretic advances in our understanding of Spanish syllable structure
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Sonia Colina
Abstract
This article offers an optimality-theoretic account of Spanish syllable structure that integrates all areas covered by traditional analyses of syllabification: syllable types, phonotactic restrictions, syllabification algorithms, domain of syllabification, and repair strategies. The article aims to highlight the advantages of an optimality theoretic approach to syllabification in order to support the claim that OT has brought about significant improvement in syllabic theory. Among these advantages are the replacement of language-specific rules with universal constraints; the resolution of rule conspiracies; and the elimination of stipulatory statements (quality of epenthetic vowels) and adhoc conditions on rule application. The descriptive facts are explained through the general mechanism of interaction of universal markedness and faithfulness constraints. Cross-dialectal and intra-speaker variation are obtained through variation in the ranking of the constraints. By resorting to universal constraints and language-specific ranking, variation is shown to result from the implementation of various ways of obtaining the same goal (e.g., elimination of coda consonants: complete deletion, voice neutralization, stricture neutralization, vocalization, etc.). Processes that were presented as separate in a derivational model (i.e., Spanish diphthongization, resyllabification and onset strengthening) are shown to respond the same motivation (avoid onsetless syllables). The article aims to be an updated optimality-theoretic alternative to general accounts of syllabification such as Harris (1989) and Hualde (1991).
Abstract
This article offers an optimality-theoretic account of Spanish syllable structure that integrates all areas covered by traditional analyses of syllabification: syllable types, phonotactic restrictions, syllabification algorithms, domain of syllabification, and repair strategies. The article aims to highlight the advantages of an optimality theoretic approach to syllabification in order to support the claim that OT has brought about significant improvement in syllabic theory. Among these advantages are the replacement of language-specific rules with universal constraints; the resolution of rule conspiracies; and the elimination of stipulatory statements (quality of epenthetic vowels) and adhoc conditions on rule application. The descriptive facts are explained through the general mechanism of interaction of universal markedness and faithfulness constraints. Cross-dialectal and intra-speaker variation are obtained through variation in the ranking of the constraints. By resorting to universal constraints and language-specific ranking, variation is shown to result from the implementation of various ways of obtaining the same goal (e.g., elimination of coda consonants: complete deletion, voice neutralization, stricture neutralization, vocalization, etc.). Processes that were presented as separate in a derivational model (i.e., Spanish diphthongization, resyllabification and onset strengthening) are shown to respond the same motivation (avoid onsetless syllables). The article aims to be an updated optimality-theoretic alternative to general accounts of syllabification such as Harris (1989) and Hualde (1991).
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction 1
- Spanish complex onsets and the phonetics–phonology interface 15
- Phonological phrasing in Spanish 39
- Hiatus resolution and incomplete identity 62
- Depalatalization in Spanish revisited 74
- Upstepping vowel height 99
- The phonology of nasal consonants in five Spanish dialects 146
- Optimality-theoretic advances in our understanding of Spanish syllable structure 172
- Exceptional hiatuses in Spanish 205
- The Spanish stress window 239
- Morphological structure and phonological domains in Spanish denominal derivation 278
- Gender allomorphy and epenthesis in Spanish 312
- A paradigm account of Spanish number 339
- Prefix boundaries in Spanish varieties 358
- Optimality Theory and language change in Spanish 378
- Duration, voice, and dispersion in stop contrasts from Latin to Spanish 399
- The interaction between faithfulness constraints and sociolinguistic variation 424
- Sonority scales and syllable structure 447
- Foot, word and phrase constraints in first language acquisition of Spanish stress 470
- Acquistion of syllable structure in Spanish 497
- Constraint conflict in the acquisition of clusters in Spanish 525
- Subject index 549
- Index of constraints 559
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction 1
- Spanish complex onsets and the phonetics–phonology interface 15
- Phonological phrasing in Spanish 39
- Hiatus resolution and incomplete identity 62
- Depalatalization in Spanish revisited 74
- Upstepping vowel height 99
- The phonology of nasal consonants in five Spanish dialects 146
- Optimality-theoretic advances in our understanding of Spanish syllable structure 172
- Exceptional hiatuses in Spanish 205
- The Spanish stress window 239
- Morphological structure and phonological domains in Spanish denominal derivation 278
- Gender allomorphy and epenthesis in Spanish 312
- A paradigm account of Spanish number 339
- Prefix boundaries in Spanish varieties 358
- Optimality Theory and language change in Spanish 378
- Duration, voice, and dispersion in stop contrasts from Latin to Spanish 399
- The interaction between faithfulness constraints and sociolinguistic variation 424
- Sonority scales and syllable structure 447
- Foot, word and phrase constraints in first language acquisition of Spanish stress 470
- Acquistion of syllable structure in Spanish 497
- Constraint conflict in the acquisition of clusters in Spanish 525
- Subject index 549
- Index of constraints 559
