LSTL 15: Parameters of Consonantal Assimilation

Parameters of Consonantal Assimilation

Young-mee Yu Cho
Rutgers University

The goal of this book is to develop a parametric theory of consonantal assimilation, one of the most well-attested processes in phonology and one which has been described extensively enough to construct a theory of some predictive power. The emphasis lies in constructing a parametric theory in which all and only the possible types of assimilations can be obtained through very simple combinations of the possible settings of the following six parameters: (1) Site of Spreading, (2) Specification on Target and/or Trigger, (3) Locality Conditions, (4) Relative Ordering between Spreading and Redundancy Rules, (5) Directionality, and (6) Domain of Spreading. The study is based on detailed analyses of the assimilation phenomena of Korean, Japanese and Sanskrit, among other languages. Building on the theoretical assumptions made by Autosegmental Phonology, Feature Geometry, Underspecification, and Lexical Phonology, all the parameters involved in local and unbounded assimilation are identified. In addition, certain universal tendencies regarding consonantal assimilation find natural explanation in the present framework.

Contents:

1 INTRODUCTION
2 THEORETICAL ASSUMPTIONS
2.1 AUTOSEGMENTAL PHONOLOGY
2.1.1 Assimilation as Spreading
2.1.2 Factorization of Feature-Changing Rules
2.2 FEATURE GEOMETRY
2.3 RADICAL UNDERSPECIFICATION
2.3.1 Coalescence
2.3.2 Edge-Neutralization
2.3.3 Assimilation
2.3.4 Absence of Place Nodes
2.4 STRUCTURE PRESERVATION
2.5 LOCALITY CONSTRAINTS ON RULES
2.6 SUMMARY
3 PARAMETERS OF ASSIMILATION
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 JAPANESE ASSIMILATION
3.3 SANSKRIT CONSONANTAL SANDHI
3.3.1 Place Assimilation
3.3.2 Neutralization
3.3.3 Other Assimilations
3.3.4 Conclusion
3.4 KOREAN ASSIMILATION
3.4.1 Place Assimilation
3.4.2 Other Assimilations
3.4.3 Coda Neutralization
3.4.4 Coda Simplification
3.5 PLACE ASSIMILATION AND CODA TARGET
4. VOICING ASSIMILATION
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 PARAMETERS OF VOICING ASSIMILATION
4.3 TYPOLOGY OF VOICING ASSIMILATION
4.3.1 Type 1: Coda Delinking and [voice] Spreading
4.3.2 Type 2: Coda Devoicing without Spreading
4.3.3 Type 3: Cluster Devoicing and [voice] Spreading
4.3.4 Type 4: Cluster Devoicing without Spreading
4.3.5 Type 5: No Devoicing with Spreading
4.3.6 Type 6: No Devoicing and No Spreading
4.3.7 Universal Delinking
4.4 COMPARING TWO THEORIES OF VOICING
4.4.1 The Role of Feature [sonorant]
4.4.2 The Status of "Voiceless" Sonorants
4.4.3 On the Interaction of Final Devoicing and Phrasal Assimilation
4.4.4 Voicing Assimilation and Underspecification
4.5 CONCLUSION
5 APPARENT COUNTEREXAMPLES
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 SANSKRIT DOUBLING AND PALI GEMINATION
5.2.1 Sanskrit Doubling
5.2.2 Doubling
5.2.3 Pali Gemination
5.2.4 Problems with Assimilation Accounts
5.2.5 Non-Assimilation Accounts
5.2.6 Gemination Account
5.3 CASES OF AUTOMATIC SPREADING
5.3.1 Hausa
5.3.2 Italian
5.3.3 Old Irish
5.4 CONCLUSION
6 TRADITIONAL GENERALIZATIONS REVISITED
6.1 CONSONANT STRENGTH HIERARCHY
6.2 DIRECTION OF ASSIMILATION
6.2.1 Dominant Assimilation
6.2.2 Progressive vs. Regressive Assimilation
6.3 HOMORGANIC NASAL ASSIMILATION
6.4 PRINCIPLE OF SIMILARITY
6.4.1 Review of some Putative Cases
6.4.2 A Case of Apparent Similarity
6.4.3 Hierarchical Extension of Similarity
6.4.4 Similarity and the OCP
7 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

ISBN 9783895866074. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 15. 266pp. 1999.