| ROA: | 134 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Reduplication and Segmental Unmarkedness |
| Authors: | John Alderete, Jill N. Beckman, Laura Benua, Amalia E. Gnanadesikan, John J. McCarthy, Suzanne Urbanczyk |
| Comment: | Superseded by ROA-226. 60 pp. July, 1996. |
| Length: | 60 |
| Abstract: | This article examines the phenomenon of fixed default segmentism in reduplicated forms, arguing that it should be understood as emergence of the unmarked (McCarthy & Prince 1994a) within Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993). Constraints on segmental markedness, particularly the Place markedness hierarchy, are satisfied at the expense of exact copying, even when they are violated freely in the language as a whole. Examples of fixed default segmentism that are studied include Yoruba, Tubatulabal, and Nancowry -- the latter two in detail. Fixed default segmentism is derived phonologically, in satisfaction of constraints on phonological markedness. A different type of fixed reduplicative segmentism, exemplified by English [table-schmable], has a morphological source: the fixed segments constitute a morpheme, and they have the properties and distribution of morphemes generally. This distinction is supported on empirical grounds and is reflected in separate (and separately motivated) aspects of the proposed theory. Apart from its relevance to the theory of fixed reduplicative segmentism, the work reported here bears on several other questions of current interest. It is set within Optimality Theory generally, which supplies a model of constraints and their interaction, and specifically within Correspondence Theory (McCarthy & Prince 1995), which generalizes notions of faithfulness to reduplication. More locally, certain questions that arise within OT or within Correspondence Theory are addressed: the nature of markedness constraints and the character of featural versus segmental faithfulness. Results in these areas are at least suggestive, and some appropriate directions for further research are indicated. |
| Type: | Paper/tech report |
| Area/Keywords: | |
| Article: | This article has been withdrawn. |