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ROA:307
Title:Theoretical Implications of OCP Effects on Features in Optimality Theory
Authors:Haruka Fukazawa
Comment:Doctoral Dissertation, U-Maryland at College Park, 1999, in 8 files
Length:296
Abstract:Theoretical Implications of OCP Effects on Features in Optimality Theory



Haruka Fukazawa

University of Maryland, College Park





This dissertation applies Optimality Theory (OT: Prince and Smolensky

1993) to furnish a typological study of the effects of the Obligatory

Contour Principle (OCP) on features. In OT, language-particular

differences are described by different rankings of the universal set of

constraints. Thus, the differences in the OCP effects on features are

totally derived from the distinct ranking in each language.



The first goal is to propose that languages are classified into four

types based on the OCP effects on features and the repair strategies,

i.e., the OCP can be violated (Type 1); featural fusion is observed

(Type 2); featural deletion and insertion take place (Type 3); and both

featural and segmental deletions are observed (Type 4). To confirm the

proposed constraint rankings for each type, the data from actual

languages are analyzed. Featural fusion in Ponapean, coronal

dissimilation in Dakota, and featural and segmental deletions in Basque

are analyzed as a Type 2, a Type 3, and a Type 4 languages, respectively.



The second goal is to ascertain the status of features as independent

elements of segments on the basis of the typological study. The second

goal leads to the third goal which is to show the necessity to introduce

the independent set of faithfulness constraints specifically for features.

Throughout this dissertation, faithfulness constraints and faithfulness

in grammar are the general themes.



This dissertation also provides support for and extends three new

theoretical aspects in OT: (i) motivation for Local Conjunction and

restrictions on the conjoinability of constraints; (ii) extension of

Sympathy Theory to general opacity; and (iii) multiple input-output

faithfulness relations within a language. The discussion in the analysis

of stop alternation in Yucatec Maya makes it clear that the notions of

Local Conjunction and Sympathy Theory need to be introduced to analyze

the OCP effect on features in this language. The claim of multiple

faithfulness relations accounts for Japanese OCP effects on features,

namely, Rendaku and Lyman's Law which are observed only in a native

vocabulary.
Type:Dissertation
Area/Keywords:
Article:Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8