Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory
-
Csilla Rákosi
Abstract
This chapter provides a survey about the most frequent methods of inconsistency resolution in Optimality Theory. With the help of the p-model, inconsistencies in OT are divided into two main groups. The first group includes conflicts that are deemed to be fatal and are solved usually by the modification of the theory: namely, clashes between “linguistic data” (acceptability judgements) and applications of the model (results of the evaluation procedure). The second group consists of conflicts that are, in contrast, tolerable in the view of OT theorists: inconsistencies between constraints and the best output candidates. The author’s analyses result in the conclusion that there is no radical break between OT and “standard” Generative Grammars with respect to the treatment of inconsistencies.
Abstract
This chapter provides a survey about the most frequent methods of inconsistency resolution in Optimality Theory. With the help of the p-model, inconsistencies in OT are divided into two main groups. The first group includes conflicts that are deemed to be fatal and are solved usually by the modification of the theory: namely, clashes between “linguistic data” (acceptability judgements) and applications of the model (results of the evaluation procedure). The second group consists of conflicts that are, in contrast, tolerable in the view of OT theorists: inconsistencies between constraints and the best output candidates. The author’s analyses result in the conclusion that there is no radical break between OT and “standard” Generative Grammars with respect to the treatment of inconsistencies.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I: The methodological framework
- Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
-
Part II: Object-theoretical applications
- Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
- Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
- Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
- Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
- Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
- Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
-
Part III: Metatheoretical applications
- Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
- Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
- Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
- Author index 315
- Subject index 317
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I: The methodological framework
- Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
-
Part II: Object-theoretical applications
- Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
- Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
- Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
- Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
- Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
- Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
-
Part III: Metatheoretical applications
- Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
- Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
- Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
- Author index 315
- Subject index 317
