Opaque Allomorphy in OT: Candidate Chains vs. Derivational Optimality Theory

• Authors: Paweł Rydzewski
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article investigates the opacity in allomorphic processes in the masculine nominative plural of Polish nouns. It is shown that the discussed cases of allomorphy are opaque. Subsequently, it is examined whether Optimality Theory can account for the opacity in the Polish data and concluded that parallel evaluation is unable to handle the relevant examples. Next, the problem is reanalyzed within the theory of candidate chains in order to determine whether the theory is capable of providing a non-derivational account. However, this version of Optimality Theory fails to achieve the attested output. It is concluded that candidate chains are unable to handle the opaque generalizations. Finally, the non-derivational account is juxtaposed with Derivational Optimality Theory in order to prove that Optimality Theory must admit derivational levels.

Keywords

EN

Optimality Theory; Polish phonology; opacity; candidate chains; allomorphy

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Journal: Poznań Studies in Contemporary Linguistics
• Year: 2010
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 481-497

Dates

published

2010-12-01

online

2011-03-30

Contributors

author

Paweł Rydzewski

• University of Warsaw

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10010-010-0024-4