The optimality-theory tag has no wiki summary.
1
vote
1answer
38 views
What is a PARSE constraint in optimality theory?
I've been looking online, but I can't find a nice description of it.
1
vote
2answers
31 views
Why is the process of word-final non-continuant deletion and nasal assimilation in Catalan opaque?
Catalan has a process whereby word-final non-continuants undergo deletion and nasal assimilation. For example /ben+k/ surfaces as [beŋ] 'I sell'.
Why is this relation opaque?
Note: I found this ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
What are *L and *W used to denote in Optimality Theory
In certain papers on Optimality Theory (e.g. this paper by McCarthy, or this) the tableaus contain the notations *L and *W, as seen in the image below:
What is meant by these notations? The second ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
What are the benefits of a Stratal approach to Optimality Theory?
Optimality Theory has been adapted by some linguists to a stratified model, what are the benefits of such a model over a non-stratified model of OT?
4
votes
0answers
65 views
What is the universal set of constraints in Optimality Theory?
According to Diana Archangeli (1997) there is a universal set of constraints (CON) that is part of our innate knowledge of language. These constraints are used in Optimality Theory, such as NOCODA: ...
5
votes
1answer
132 views
What rule governs the vowel alternations in Latin caput/capit-/-cep(t)-/-cipit-/-ciput?
In different forms, the Latin root caput "head" appears with different vowels:
a-u: caput (nominative singular);
a-i: capitis (genitive singular), capitī (dative singular), capita (nominative ...
1
vote
0answers
108 views
What are some theoretical motivations for do-support?
I've been attempting to put together an overview of the various theoretical motivations that have been proposed for do-support in the literature, but the topic has been frustratingly difficult to ...
5
votes
1answer
186 views
Are certain phonological processes more likely to be surface true?
This question occurred to me when studying Optimality Theory phonology. For reduplication in OT, the base of the stem (/reduplicated part) is taken to be the input for the reduplicated morph. However, ...
2
votes
2answers
97 views
Constraint against multiple identical linkage in OT
I confess this question is rather theory-internal, but it may be very trivial for someone who follows the theoretical literature well. I am thinking of a type of constraint and want to know if such a ...
8
votes
2answers
493 views
What does Optimality Theory explain that rule-based phonology doesn't?
I understand how basic Optimality Theory (as applied to phonology) works, but I've never understood how it came into popularity. I'm guessing, though, that there are good reasons why it arose.
So ...
