| ROA: | 108 |
|---|---|
| Title: | The First Person Plural Subject Prefix in Babine/Witsuwit'en |
| Authors: | Sharon Hargus |
| Comment: | 24 pp, Uses SIL IPA Doulos in some examples |
| Length: | 24 |
| Abstract: | The First Person Plural Subject Prefix in Babine/Witsuwit'en ROA-108 (24 pp.) babwitpl.ps, --.wrd, ---.rtf Sharon Hargus University of Washington sharon@u.washington.edu The first person plural subject prefix in Babine/Witsuwit'en (Athabaskan) provides an argument for Optimality Theory over conventional generative phonology. This prefix has two allomorphs, syllable-initial [ts']- and syllable-final [z]-. The choice between allomorphs in environments where either could, in principle, be used can easily be described in terms of familiar OT constraints such as NoCoda, Align-L, Fill, Parse, etc. A conventional generative analysis of the facts is less than ideal, as it recapitulates independently required phonological generalizations and requires a quirky rule of Epenthesis. New OT constraints required to analyze the data are CodaSon (a coda should be more sonorous than a following onset), and *Complex(Except) (clusters violate syllable well-formedness except word-initially). NB: Some characters in this ms. are from SILDoulosIPA font. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: |
| Type: | Paper/tech report |
| Area/Keywords: | |
| Article: | Version 1 |