| ROA: | 235 |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Comparative Optimality of Hebrew Roots: An Experimental Approach to Violable Identity Constraints |
| Authors: | Dan Everett, Iris Berent |
| Comment: | |
| Length: | 20 |
| Abstract: | The Comparative Optimality of Hebrew Roots: An Experimental Approach to Violable Identity Constraints Daniel L. Everett and Iris Berent This paper argues that the Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP) is a mental constraint on Modern Hebrew lexical structures. However, our results lead us to reinterpret the OCP as a family of ranked, violable constraints against identical consonants in different positions within Hebrew roots, as in Optimality Theory (OT). Our evidence comes from two experiments involving 23 Hebrew speakers who rated words derived from three types of roots. Experiment 1 obtained a rating of roots relative to each other. In Experiment 2 subjects were asked to determine the acceptability of words separately. Words with root-initial gemination, (e.g., SaSaM), were rated significantly lower compared to final gemination, (e.g., MaSaS). Root-initial gemination was rated significantly lower than no gemination controls, PSM, which were identical in their second and third radicals. Two aspects of the findings challenge the OCP. First the disadvantage of SSM type roots was strongest when identical consonants were not separated by a full vowel (e.g., maS-Si-Mim). Thus, surface adjacency of root-initial geminates increases their ill-formedness. Second, Experiment 1 revealed a general bias against gemination. Although subjects were sensitive to the location of gemination, preferring root- final over root-initial gemination, root-final gemination was rated significantly lower than no gemination controls. Relative preferences based on location of 'gemination' and surface proximity of identical consonants seem to support an OT approach to the issues. We show, however, that the OT analysis must allow for native speaker ability to compare the relative optimality of the outputs of distinct words and roots. This requires a notion of Comparative Optimality to be added to the tools of the theory. |
| Type: | Paper/tech report |
| Area/Keywords: | |
| Article: | Version 1 |