Although much of the interest in ot has been associated with its use in phonology the area to which ot was first applied, the theory is also applicable to other subfields of. The main idea is that grammars impose a set of restrictions on what are valid surface forms. These restrictions can be formalized in terms of constraints. This book provides an overview of the role of the syllable in optimality theory ot and ways in which problems that relate to the analysis of syllable structure can be. Nicholas rolle lectures at uc berkeley on optimality theory in phonology ling 115 2016.
The prevailing nonsequential approach to phonology, the optimality theory, ot, is based not on rewrite rules but on constraints. Currently, its most fruitful applications although by no means the only. Subject linguistics, syllabication, grammar, comparative and general phonology, phonetics extent 245 p. It is claimed that optimality theory cannot account for phonological opacity see idsardi 2000, for example.
It was not clear from early work in optimality theory how the theory could attack the rich range of phenomena now found in segmental alterations. Candidate d, however is harmonically bounded by a, and by c. I adopt silvermans proposal that cantonese speakers do not perceive all. Lexical phonology is an approach to phonology that accounts for the interactions of morphology and phonology in the word building process. We should rather see it as part of the phonological toolbox, part of the technical machinery we need in order to have a fullblown theory of phonology. Formal comparison and synthesis russell james norton a thesis submitted for the degree of doctor of philosophy. Allophonic distribution and phonological scales, lecture 7 notes pdf. A reader is a collection of readings on this important new theory by leading figures in the field, including a lengthy excerpt from prince and smolenskys never. Nov 29, 2016 nicholas rolle lectures at uc berkeley on optimality theory in phonology ling 115 2016. Max every input segment must have an output correspondent. In this paper we point to some parallels between principles employed in optimality theoretic interpretation, and notions from the wellestablished field of game theory. In romance languages and linguistic theory 12 romance.
An analysis of phonology and linguistic interfaces as a new case for a biopsychological foundation for linguistics. Many criticisms of ot are, according to its proponents, based on fundamental misunderstanding of how it works. Optimality theory in phonology alan prince and paul smolensky 1. In derivational phonology, effects that are inexplicable at the surface. It is essential reading for students of linguistics around the world. Pdf i will argue that loanword phonology in cantonese does not exist as a separate component of the grammar and that the differences.
Davies taught me the dynamism of human languages that is, how messy languages are, and gave me a valuable lesson that no linguistic theory is viable if we overlook the data. Theory, in which markedness has no substantive status in the grammar, but functions as an external system of annotations on parameter values, evaluating a grammars complexity. In class we mainly approached phonology from a rulebased perspective, and were breifly told of ots constraintbased approach in passing. Section 2 gives an example of syntax within the theory.
Pdf the syllable in optimality theory researchgate. Optimality theory history it is a linguistic model proposing that the observed forms of language arise from the interaction between conflicting constraints. In this weeks episode, we take a look at optimality theory. One of the best channels on youtube, thanks for helping me survive my phonology class. Positional faithfulness, constraint conjunction, global comparison. I argue that there are two dimensions along which generalizations can be made. Nov 30, 2016 in this weeks episode, we take a look at optimality theory. U abstract optimality theory was introduced in the early 1990s as an alternative model of the organization of natural human language sound systems. It will find an audience ranging from the student to the active researcher, and will define research directions in theoretical phonology and english. Section 3 examines possible implications of optimality theory for studies of language processing, discussing work on the computability of optimality theoretic grammars, as well as some conceptual similarities between optimality theory and work in connectionism and dynamical systems. Non linear phonology autosegmental phonology introduction. How many phonological constraints are there in optimality. This article surveys the motivations for ot, its core principles, and the basics of analysis.
Optimality theory presented by ashour abdulaziz, eric dodson, jessica hanson, and teresa li overview introduction how to interpret ot historical development theory application pros and cons optimality theory central idea. Alignment and optimality theory this paper looks at the linguistic phenomenon of alignment,in which languages show a preference for certain linguistic features to be aligned with other linguistic features. It also addresses some frequently asked questions about this theory and offers suggestions. Lecture notes introduction to phonology linguistics and. Constraint interaction in generative grammar compiles the most important readings about optimality theory in phonology from some of the most prominent researchers. What are the advantages disadvantages of a rulebased method of phonological analysis over competing methods such as optimality theory. What are the advantages disadvantages of a rulebased. I adopt silvermans proposal that cantonese speakers do not perceive.
This book is an introduction to the theory of metrical phonology, one of the most exciting developments in linguistic theory in the last decade. However, there is now a body of work that concentrates on working out the details of featural phonology with ot, demonstrating that the theory allows superior explanations of the typological. It is intended for linguists, psychologists, speech pathologists, secondlanguage instructors and those interested in the latest developments in phonological theory and its applied extensions. Surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing demands or constraints. Optimality theory was introduced in the 1990s by linguists alan prince and paul smolensky optimality theory. It can lead to much more elegant analyses in some cases. A reader is a collection of readings on this important new theory by leading figures in the field, starting with a lengthy excerpt from the original source, prince and smolenskys neverbeforepublished report optimality theory. Optimality theory confronts these issues directly, designing its basic architecture to deal with them. In generative linguistics, optimality theory is a recent development. Nonparametric learning of phonological constraints in. Focusing on the phonologies of children with functional nonorganic speech disorders, this volume reports the latest findings in optimality theory, phonological acquisition and disorders.
The book does not confine itself to any specific theoretical approach and can therefore be used for study within any framework and also to prepare students for work in more. Jan 29, 2017 this is hard to say because people add their own obscure proposals all the time. In language for example one has to know which of two syllables in a foot is stressed and in music which chord of a certain sequence is the most prominent in the progression of the whole piece. This course is the first half of a yearlong introduction to the p side of the grammar.
Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax, morphology, pragmatics, language change, and other. Mccarthy university of massachusetts amherst abstract. Cantonese loanword phonology and optimality theory article pdf available in journal of east asian linguistics 23. A reader is a collection of readings on this important new theory by leading figures in the field, including a lengthy excerpt from prince and smolenskys neverbeforepublished optimality theory. In this paper i argue that the two main families of phonological constraints in optimality theory, markedness and faithfulness constraints can be derived from more basic cognitive principles. Optimality theory how is optimality theory abbreviated. Optimality theory ot is a linguistic model originally proposed by the linguists alan prince and paul smolensky in 1993. The basic principles of optimality theory are introduced and explained gen, con, and eval. The volume bridges the gap between theory and application by showing how each informs the other. Optimality theory ot shifts the focus of linguistic discovery from rules and derivations to constraints and rankings. Chapter 1 language and music in optimality theory 11 and which mode of perception is optimal in music. Therefore, d cannot be the optimal candidate under any ranking of just these three constraints, though it could be optimal with a larger constraint set.
Linguistic and cognitive explanation in optimality theory. Ot differs from other approaches to phonological analysis, such as autosegmental phonology and linear phonology spe, which typically use rules rather. Optimality theory optimality theory prince and smolensky 1993 ot is a theory of constraint interaction. Ot models grammars as systems that provide mappings from inputs to outputs. Optimality theory catches on in linguistics, first in phonology, then in syntax, and recently also at the semanticspragmatics interface. Optimality theory is a general model of how grammars are structured. Second language phonology in optimality theory barbara.
Optimality theory, phonological acquisition and disorders. Ot henceforth has experimented a spectacular development in the last decade, exerting. Optimality theory optimality theory frequently abbreviated ot. Barbara hancinbhatt university of illinois at urbanachampaign. The basic assumptions of this constraintbased theory as a general model of grammar are first outlined, with formal notation being defined and illustrated. Optimality theory has attracted substantial amounts of criticism, most of which is directed at its application to phonology rather than syntax or other fields. Description in this dissertation, i present a typology of obstruent clusters and argue that the systematic patterns of occurrence of these clusters must be explained in sonorityindependent terms. Given the architecture of generative phonology, which distinguishes between underlying lexical forms and surface forms, and given the. Spanishenglish and portugueseenglish interlanguage phonology. The phonotactics and phonology of obstruent clusters in. An analysis of phonology and linguistic interfaces as a new case for a. Metrical phonology has revolutionised our ideas and knowledge of such phenomena as stress patterning, and contributed to a better understanding of quite basic phonological issues. It consists of ordered levels, which are the domain for certain phonological or morphological processes. Concepts unique to the theory, including emergence of the unmarked.
A synthesis of derivational and optimality phonology is then presented in which constraints accumulate one by one constraint cumulation theory, cct. In this paper we point to some parallels between principles employed in optimality theoretic interpretation, and notions from. It espouses a serialist view of morphology that is rejected by most current phonologists. Your book is focused on oldfashioned rewrite rules. Optimality theory is grammar about rules or constraints. Cantonese loanword phonology and optimality theory. Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax, morphology, pragmatics, language change, and other areas. However, i dont understand how optimality theory can deal with phonological opacity. A very long list of linguistics youtube channels and other free online videos about linguistics. The book is based on typological, crosssectional, longitudinal, and experimental evidence from over 200 children. English phonology examines the fascinating topic of distributional patterns in the phonology of english, a language with a wellstudied and complex phonology, framed within optimality theory. The lexicon plays a central, productive role in the theory. Clear and concise, this textbook is an introduction to phonology for students which assumes no prior knowledge of this area of linguistics and provides an overall view of the field which can be covered within one year.
Optimality theory has drawn a good deal of criticism, most of which is directed at its application to phonology rather than syntax or other fields. Up to now the material which has been published in this field has taken. Its goals are to introduce the major research questions, results, and analytic techniques in the. Okay, so heres a crash course in optimality theory or ot for any confused linguistics or.
In romance languages and linguistic theory 12 romance languages. Constraint interaction in generative grammar, 19932004. Optimality theory is a theory of phonology that drops chomskyan replacement rules in favor of a set of ranked constraints. I will argue that loanword phonology in cantonese does not exist as a separate component of the grammar and that the differences between english language source forms and their cantonese equivalents can be understood as the result of subjecting nonnative inputs to the constraints that define wellformed cantonese words.
It is a theory that has been most widely accepted in the realm of phonology, but has implications for all areas of linguistics. It covers alternation, vowel harmony, phonemic analysis, natural classes and distinctive features, abstractness and opacity, syllable structure, tone, stress, prosodic morphology, feature geometry, and optimality theory. This is hard to say because people add their own obscure proposals all the time. In linguistics, optimality theory frequently abbreviated ot.
Cantonese loanword phonology and optimality theory springerlink. This article provides an introduction to the model for the nonlinguist. Concepts unique to the theory, including emergence of the unmarked, are also described. Lecture notes introduction to phonology linguistics. These constraints are used in optimality theory, such as nocoda. The basic formal element of the theory is the constraint. Syllabus introduction to phonology linguistics and. Constraint interaction in generative grammar compiles the most important readings about optimality theory in phonology from some of the most prominent researchers in. Optimality theory in phonology california institute of. Pdf cantonese loanword phonology and optimality theory.