| ROA: | 33 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Sonority-Driven Stress |
| Authors: | Michael Kenstowicz |
| Comment: | 28pp. 8/94 |
| Length: | 28 |
| Abstract: | Sonority-Based Stress ROA-33 sonstress.ps Michael Kenstowicz kenstow@mit.edu MIT,August 1994 It is well known that the sonority hierarchy plays a major role in determining the peaks and margins of the syllable. In this paper we look at several languages in which the relative sonority of syllabic nuclei determines the optimal stress-bearing units. Our analysis is couched in the constraints-based Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993) as this framework provides a way to formally express the attraction of stress to the most sonorous vowel in a straightforward and natural way. In order to extend the OT model to the systems we consider here, several proposals are made. First, the Peak Prominence constraint Prince & Smolensky (1993) develop for quantitative distinctions in Hindi stress is extended to sonority distinctions. Second, comparable to the Prince & Smolensky (1993) analysis of Berber syllabification, the Peak Prominence constraint is broken down into a set of micro constraints for each level of the sonority hierarchy. It is demonstrated how these constraints can be interleaved with other constraints that orient prominence with respect to the edges of the word either directly or indirectly through controlling the size of the metrical constituent. Finally, in order to express the two opposing edge orientations in languages such as Mari (Cheremis), it is suggested that sonority distinctions also optimize the trough ("nonpeak") portions of metrical constituents. This application of sonority parallels the margin constraints in the Prince & Smolensky (1993) analysis of Berber syllabification. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: |
| Type: | Paper/tech report |
| Area/Keywords: | |
| Article: | Version 1 |