The Phonotactics and Phonology of Obstruent Clusters in Optimality Theory
 





Frida Morelli



University of Maryland











In this dissertation, I present a typology of obstruent clusters and argue
 

that the systematic patterns of occurrence of these clusters must be explained 
 

in sonority-independent terms.  I argue that there are two dimensions along 
 

which generalizations can be made; one is the dimension where the feature 
 

[continuant] is relevant and the other is the place dimension.
 





On the continuancy dimension, I claim that markedness relationships exist among 
 

the four types of obsturent clsuters, i.e. fricative+stop, fricative+fricative, 
 

stop+fricative and stop+stop.  In particular, I argue that fricative+stop 
 

clusters are the unmarked type of sbstruent clusters.  Their unmarkedness is 
 

assessed against a system of constratins on segment sequencing on the basis of 
 

a strategy of analysis that derives universal markedness relationships without 
 

fixed rankings.  I call this strategy the Subset Strategy.  Modern Greek and 
 

Nisqually provide evidence for my proposal, as does a cross-linguistic survey 
 

of obstruent cluster patterns.







On the place dimension, I show that the typology observed can best be understood 
 

via a system of constraints that favors faithfulness to place in release 
 

positions.  Relevant data from English, German, Dakota and Takelma are presented 
 

and analyzed.







Finally, I argue that, s+STOP clusters are the best-formed of all obstruent 
 

clusters because they are unmarked along both dimensions.  I show that the special 
 

phonological behavior often associated with these clusters follows from the fact 
 

that they are unmarked within the dimension of obstruent clusters and not because 
 

they are marked within the dimension of core clusters.
 









File details:



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File 1 :  Front matter



File 2 :  Chapter 1 -- Cluster Phonotactics and the Sonority Sequencing Principle
 

File 3 :  Chapter 2 -- The Onset Typology



File 4 :  Chapter 3 -- Case Studies



File 5 :  Chapter 4 -- Place Generalizations



File 6 :  Chapter 5 -- Medial Syllabification of s+STOP Onsets
 

File 7 :  Appendix and Bibliography