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ROA:1210
Title:Unstable surface correspondence as the source of local conspiracies
Authors:Sharon Inkelas, Stephanie Shih
Comment:
Length:14 pages
Abstract:In this paper, we address parallelisms between local and long-distance effects in segmen-tal phonology, focusing on the similarity conditions that trigger them. We take the view that both local and long-distance harmony and disharmony are consequences of segmental correspondence—-namely, unstable surface correspondence-—as modeled in Agreement by Correspondence theory (ABC; e.g., Walker 2000a, b; Hansson 2001; Rose and Walker 2004). The basic tenet of ABC is that properties of featural or structural similarity underlie interactions between segments; unstable surface correspondence is the situation in which segments are sufficiently similar to interact but too uncomfortably similar to stably coexist at a certain distance, thereby requiring repair via assimilation or dissimilation. This united view of local and non-local (dis)harmony offers an alternative to standard markedness constraints that have been invoked in Optimality Theory (OT; Prince & Smolensky 2004) to handle local assimilation and dissimilation effects. As our case study, we examine the classic nasal-consonant (NC) patterns that have played a key role in the development of OT.
Type:Paper/tech report
Area/Keywords:phonology, conspiracies, phonological similarity, harmony, dissimilation
Article:Version 1