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770-0805 
Transparency in Span Theory
Author 
Michael OKeefe Rutgers University <mcokeefe@eden.rutgers.edu> [Details]
Comment 
To appear in Leah Bateman, Adam Werle, Michael O'Keefe, and Ehren Reilly, eds., University of Massachusetts Occasional Papers in Linguistics 33: Papers in Optimality Theory 3. Amherst, MA: GLSA.
Length 
17 pp.
Files 
 PDF 296kb
Abstract 


This paper offers a solution to the issue of transparency in harmony systems. In keeping with much previous work, it argues that the least marked state is that in which all segments in the domain of harmony agree in the harmonizing feature. Domain-internal disagreement in feature values is possible only when motivated by markedness. As the abstract structure producing harmony is a domain rather than an autosegmental unit, violability of harmonic association is available. Thus, this account proposes that 'skipping' is permitted when motivated by other factors. The analysis is set within Span Theory (McCarthy 2004) and formally captures the pattern by allowing violability of association with span heads via the ASSOCIATEHEAD family of constraints.
Keywords 
 vowel harmony, transparency, Span Theory
Area 
 Phonology
Type 
 Manuscript
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