Optimizing Structure: The Case of the Op g S uc u e e Case o e - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Optimizing Structure: The Case of the Op g S uc u e e Case o e ‘CCV’ Syllable of Akan Charles Marfo < cmarfo@gmail com> < cmarfo@gmail.com> Dept. of Modern Languages KNUST

1. Introduction � The issue: � Does Akan have ‘CCV’ structure; a � Does Akan have CCV structure; a syllable with a consonant cluster, only represented as ‘CrV? (cf e g Kaye represented as CrV? (cf. e.g. Kaye 1985; Pilote 1982; ) � The claim: Th l i � Yes, but only as a phonetic form. , y p � ‘CrV’ has however found its way in the phonology of the language. phonology of the language. ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 2

1. Introduction � The gist of argument: � ‘CrV’ is in the language only/ primarily � CrV is in the language only/ primarily as a phonetic form. � This is due to economy of speech; a � This is due to economy of speech; a syllable reduction and its incorporation into another; ‘CV.rV’ → ‘CrV’ ; � Theory of analysis: � Optimality theory ( OT ) (e g Kager � Optimality theory ( OT ) (e.g., Kager 1999; Prince & Smolensky 1993); ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 3

2. The ‘CCV’ structure � As noted earlier, in Akan, ‘CCV’ is only represented in the form of ‘C r V’ only represented in the form of C r V (1) CrV n. tr ‘a lie’ p pre .bu.o ‘nest’ . sr ‘type of weed’ . bra b ‘lif ’ ‘life’ n. kru .ma ‘okro’ ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 4

2.1 Realizing ‘CrV’ � In an underlying string of ‘CV 1 .CV 2 ’, there occurs vowel elision in ‘CV 1 ’ there occurs vowel elision in CV 1 . � This vowel elision results in a reduction in ‘CV 1 ’ (C_), which is then ed ction in ‘CV ’ (C ) hich is then incorporated into CV 2 , hence ‘CCV. � But for these to occur: � The consonant in ‘CV 2 ’ must be the sonorant, / r/ . � The vowel in ‘CV 1 ’ is phonetically specific. The vowel in CV 1 is phonetically specific. ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 5

2.2 Phonetic ‘CrV’: Evidence 1. ‘CV.rV’ structures in the phonology (or orthography) are also phoneti- (or orthography) are also phoneti- cally realized as ‘CrV’; e.g. CV.CV → (2) (2) CV CV C V CrV ku.ro [ kr.o ] ‘town’ [ t  r. ] ‘to teach’ kye.r 2 L 2. Language relation; in this case, l ti i thi between Akan and Nzema ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 6

2.2 Phonetic ‘CrV’: Evidence (3) Nzema Akan tnla bel tnla bel tena br ‘abode’ tena br abode zolo sro ‘above’ bla bra ‘to come’ sl sl sr sr ‘to beg’ to beg fili fri ‘to credit’ bulu wu bru u ‘blue’ ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 7

3. Constraining ‘CrV’ � With the current data, two marked- ness constraints immediately ness constraints immediately conspire to evolve ‘CrV’: i.e. � No Complex Onset (‘* [ CC’) and � No Complex Onset ( * [ σ CC ) and Complex-by-Sonorance (‘* V[ σ r’). � * [ CC � * [ σ CC: A syllable must not have a A ll bl t t h complex onset. � * V[ σ r: * V[ A A vowel before a sonorant- l b f t initial syllable is bad. ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 8

3. Constraining ‘CrV’ � ‘* V[ σ r’ must outrank ‘* [ σ CC’ if we are to optimized the desired are to optimized the desired phonetic form of ‘CrV’ (as against ‘CV ‘CV.rV’). V’) � Note that ‘CrV’ is the desired economy- driven structure (candidate). � The ranking *V[ σ r » *[ σ CC is thus * [ *[ h k h immediately crucial to our analysis. y y ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 9

3.1 Tableaux I: *V[ σ r » *[ σ CC ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 10

4. Other information @ play � The occurrence of the sonorant / r/ as onset of CV 2 (in ‘CV CV’) is as onset of CV 2 (in CV.CV ) is paramount in the realization of the phonetic form ‘CrV’. h ti f ‘C V’ � So, where any other consonant is , y the onset, ‘CCV’ is not realized … � � … and ‘CV CV’ remains as the and CV.CV remains as the phonetic form. ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 11

4. Other information @ play ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 12

4. Other information @ play � Two other pieces of information become relevant to the analysis: become relevant to the analysis: � Vowel Harmony and Vowel Height . � That is, to realize ‘CrV’, 1. ATR harmony should be attained betw- 1. ATR harmony should be attained betw een vowels in the syllables concerned. 2 2. The vowel in CV 1 – i.e. the vowel to The vowel in CV 1 – i e the vowel to elide – must have the specification [ + high] [ + high] . ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 13

4.1 Vowel (ATR) Harmony � Observe ATR harmony and ‘CrV’ realization: realization: ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 14

4.1 Vowel (ATR) Harmony � If harmony is violated, ‘CV.rV’ remains as the phonetic form remains as the phonetic form. ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 15

4.1 Vowel (ATR) Harmony � But, why is ‘CV.rV’ still the phonetic form in the ff data despite / r/ in form in the ff. data, despite / r/ in ‘CV 2 ’ and ATR harmony satisfaction as factors to realize ‘CrV’? f t t li ‘C V’? ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 16

4.2 Vowel Height � Notice that the vowels in CV 1 are all [ -H] (with regard to vowel height) [ -H] (with regard to vowel height). ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 17

4.2 Vowel Height � Where the vowel in CV 1 is [ + H] , it elides elides. ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 18

5. Further Constraining � With the additional pieces of information the present information , the present constraints and their ranking are not enough to account for the two t h t t f th t phonetic forms of ‘CrV’ and ‘CV.rV’. � That is, they could evolve ill- formed candidates as the optimal formed candidates as the optimal ones. (see Tableaux II & III) ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 19

5.1 Tableaux II: *V[ σ r » *[ σ CC ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 20

5.2 Tableaux III: *[ σ CC»*V[ σ r ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 21

5.3 Other constraints � Thus, the additional information need to be factored in the need to be factored in the motivation of constraints. � They are constrained as follows: � They are constrained as follows: � IDENT-IO [ATR] : ATR specifications in the output must be identical to those th t t t b id ti l t th in the input. � Parse V [–H] σ [r : Pre-sonorant vowel should be parsed as [ –H] . ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 22

5.3 Other constraints � ATR harmony as a constraint: � Candidate (b) is properly evolved. ( ) p p y ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 23

5.3 Other constraints � Vowel height as a constraint: � Candidate (b) is properly evolved. ( ) p p y ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 24

6. Conclusion � The ‘CrV’ syllable structure is only a phonetic form (of an underlying phonetic form (of an underlying structure); � Thus, it should be phonologically discussed into two separate p syllables. � It is realized when certain phonetic � It is realized when certain phonetic conditions are present. ACAL 41, May 6-8, U/ Toronto 25