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Title:The Phonotactics and Phonology of Obstruent Clusters in Optimality Theory
Authors:Frida Morelli
Comment:U. of Maryland dissertation in 7 PDF files (see abstract for file details)
Length:235
Abstract:The Phonotactics and Phonology of Obstruent Clusters in Optimality Theory



Frida Morelli

University of Maryland





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 sonority-independent terms. I argue that there are two dimensions along

which generalizations can be made; one is the dimension where the feature

[continuant] is relevant and the other is the place dimension.



On the continuancy dimension, I claim that markedness relationships exist among

the four types of obsturent clsuters, i.e. fricative+stop, fricative+fricative,

stop+fricative and stop+stop. In particular, I argue that fricative+stop

clusters are the unmarked type of sbstruent clusters. Their unmarkedness is

assessed against a system of constratins on segment sequencing on the basis of

a strategy of analysis that derives universal markedness relationships without

fixed rankings. I call this strategy the Subset Strategy. Modern Greek and

Nisqually provide evidence for my proposal, as does a cross-linguistic survey

of obstruent cluster patterns.



On the place dimension, I show that the typology observed can best be understood

via a system of constraints that favors faithfulness to place in release

positions. Relevant data from English, German, Dakota and Takelma are presented

and analyzed.



Finally, I argue that, s+STOP clusters are the best-formed of all obstruent

clusters because they are unmarked along both dimensions. I show that the special

phonological behavior often associated with these clusters follows from the fact

that they are unmarked within the dimension of obstruent clusters and not because

they are marked within the dimension of core clusters.





File details:

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File 1 : Front matter

File 2 : Chapter 1 -- Cluster Phonotactics and the Sonority Sequencing Principle

File 3 : Chapter 2 -- The Onset Typology

File 4 : Chapter 3 -- Case Studies

File 5 : Chapter 4 -- Place Generalizations

File 6 : Chapter 5 -- Medial Syllabification of s+STOP Onsets

File 7 : Appendix and Bibliography
Type:Dissertation
Area/Keywords:
Article:Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7