First published 1999 printed in the united kingdom at the university press, cambridge typeset in times 91 2 pt gc a catalogue record for this book is available from the british library library of congress cataloguing in publication data kager, rene. The current study examines japanese loanwords from english in the framework of optimality theory ot. Ot differs from other approaches to phonological analysis, such as autosegmental phonology and linear phonology spe, which typically use. Optimality theory as a family of cumulative logics.
Optimality theory is a development of generative grammar, a theory sharing its focus on formal description and quest for universal principles, on the basis of empirical research of linguistic typology and first language acquisition. Archangeli 1997, tesar, grimshaw, and prince 1999, kager 1999. Search results for cambridgetextbooksinlinguisticsoptimalitytheory optimality theory. Optimality theory differs from derivational theories. As for the second formalization, we define after samek. Optimality theory has transformed the field of linguistics more than almost any other development of the past halfcentury, and prince and smolensky started it all. At appropriate points, kager distinguishes the different claims made by optimality theory and derivational theories. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read.
The goal of this study is to investigate which vowels native japanesespeaking borrowers epenthesize and when they delete consonants in modifying english source words. Stress assignment in polysyllabic words in levantine. Verbal reduplication in gapapaiwa involves an interesting variety of phonological patterns. Since its inception in the early 1990s, optimality theory ot. This is a preprint version of an article to appear in. The publication year of this book is 1999 and the theory is still going through the evolutional process. Vowels must not be nasal the constraint in 1 favours oral vowels over nasal ones.
Home collections hosted content computational linguistics vol. Part of language acquisition can then be described as the process of adjusting the ranking of these constraints. August 1997 written for the proceedings volume of the 1996 milwaukee conference on formalism and functionalism in linguistics abstract functionalist phonetic literature has shown how the phonologies of human languages are. Bradley, uc davis november 5, 20 abstract this article surveys research in spanish phonology from the perspective of optimality theory, a formal linguistic framework based on ranked and violable constraints. Optimality theory was introduced in the 1990s by linguists alan prince and paul smolensky optimality theory. Prince and smolensky 19932004 has emerged as one of the most in. Optimality theory is a general theory of grammar, rather than one of phono logy. Kager 1999 gives an entrylevel introduction to ot,mccarthy 2001 surveys advanced topics, and the rutgers optimality archivecontained hundreds of ot papers. Model theory and the content of ot constraints christopher potts geo. Manuscript, rutgers university and university of colorado at boulder.
Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax, morphology, pragmatics, language change, and other. Despite the evolution, this book still serves any newcomer of phonology. The opus classicum of optimality theory is prince and smolensky 1993. This book presents an introduction to optimality theory, a grammatical framework of recent origin prince and smolensky 1993, mccarthy and prince 1993a, b. Rene kager s textbook is one of the first to cover optimality theory ot, a declarative grammar framework that swiftly took over phonology after it was introduced by prince, smolensky, and mccarthy in 1993. This paper proposes an optimalitytheoretic analysis of stress assignment in levantine arabic. Kager 1999 and leben 2006 points out, in contrast to autosegmental theory, ot is not primarily a theory of representations. Optimality theory in phonological acquisition request pdf.
Optimality theory presented by ashour abdulaziz, eric dodson, jessica hanson, and teresa li overview introduction how to interpret ot historical development theory application pros and cons optimality theory central idea. Many criticisms of ot are, according to its proponents, based on fundamental misunderstanding of how it works. Prince and smolensky 1993 introduced optimality theory ot as aframework for linguistic analysis. Optimality theory jhu computer science johns hopkins university. Optimality theory kager free ebook download as pdf file. Optimality theory has been deployed by linguists to analyze all levels of linguistic structure, from phonetics to pragmatics. Optimality theory ebok rene kager 9780511038600 bokus. Optimality theory assumes that these components are universal. The english syllable structure within optimality theory.
Fortunately, it is now available for a larger audience in this text edition. This is a preprint version of an article to appear in language and linguistics compass optimality theory and spanish phonology travis g. A surface form is optimal if it incurs the least serious violations of a set of constraints, taking into account their hierarchical ranking. Here are some of the basic premises of the theory as i construe it. Ren6 kager s textbook is one of the first to cover optimality theory ot, a declarative grammar framework that swiftly took over phonology after it was introduced by prince, smolensky, and mccarthy in 1993. Kagers book provides a comprehensive overview of ot theory and practice. The role of optimality theory and inductive grounding1 bruce p. A basic understanding of phonology and earlier rulebased derivational theories is assumed. Prince and smolensky 1993 introduced optimality theory ot as a framework for linguistic analysis. Optimality theory by rene kager, 1999 online research. Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax, morphology, pragmatics, language change, and other areas. In linguistics, optimality theory frequently abbreviated ot.
Differences in grammars reflect different rankings of the universal constraint set, con. For more information on allowed uses, please view the cc license. The theory was later expanded by prince and john mccarthy in 2001 optimality theory is usually considered a. Alignment and optimality theory this paper looks at the linguistic phenomenon of alignment,in which languages show a preference for certain linguistic features to be aligned with other linguistic features. Introduction in the score years since phonologist alan prince and cognitive scientist paul smolensky first detailed their optimality theory ot. Two recent and comprehensive textbooks are kager 1999 and mccarthy 2002. Optimality theory ot is a linguistic model originally proposed by the linguists alan prince and paul smolensky in 1993. In terms of the tenets of optimality theory, universality means that something called constraints, i. Basically, we represent each constraint as a function that assigns every candidate a degree of violation. Optimality theory, this idea is captured by a markedness constraint such as that in 1. This study deals with the optimality theory and the syllable structure within the hypothetical framework of the theory. This is an introduction to optimality theory, whose central idea is that surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing constraints. Cambridge textbooks in linguistics optimality theory available for download and read onl.
Optimality theory an introduction publish your masters. Optimality theory an introduction patrick schmitz term paper advanced seminar english language and literature studies linguistics publish your bachelors or masters thesis, dissertation, term paper or essay. A phonological analysis using optimality theory catherine mcguckin, graduate institute of applied linguistics student and silpng abstract. The syllable has always played a central role in the phonological theory. Optimality theory ot is a theory of constraint interaction. Studies in natural language and linguistic theory, vol 64. Linguistics 201introduction to linguistic theory, one of linguistics 305, 315, 325 syntax, phonology, semantics, or permission of the instructor. Optimality theory by rene kager cambridge university press. Although much of the interest in ot has been associated with its use in phonology the area to which ot was first applied, the theory is also applicable to other. Annual meetings on phonology linguistic society of america. Kager 1999 gives an entrylevel introduction to ot, mccarthy 2001 surveys. Pullum university of california, santa cruz we develop an extensible description logic for stating the content of optimalitytheoretic constraints in phonology, and specify a class of structures for interpreting it. Optimality theory rene kager utrecht university cambridge.
Gapapaiwa is an oceanic austronesian language spoken in papua new guinea. Bradley university of california, davis abstract this article surveys research in spanish phonology from the perspective of optimality theory, a formal linguistic framework based on ranked and violable constraints. Pdf cambridge textbooks in linguistics optimality theory. Theory, in which markedness has no substantive status in the grammar, but functions as an external system of annotations on parameter values, evaluating a grammars complexity. For each chapter, mccarthy adds brief introductory. Therefore this book is not limited in its empirical scope to phonological phenomena, but it also contains chapters on the leamability of ot granunars chapter 7 and extensions to syntax chapter 8. We investigate two formalizations of optimality theory, a successful paradigm in linguistics. Constraint interaction in generative grammar, 19932004. Mar 03, 2012 optimality theory in linguistics by kie zuraw 1. But within the recent advent of optimality theory, its role has become crucial in linguistics. The fundamental idea behind ot is that surface forms of language. Optimality theory cambridge textbooks in linguistics rene kager download bok. For acquisition, it predicts that children will start out producing oral vowels and avoiding nasal vowels, which is correct. Optimality theory cambridge textbooks in linguistics.
Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. A reader is a collection of readings on this important new theory by leading figures in the field, including a lengthy excerpt from prince and smolenskys neverbeforepublished optimality theory. Optimality theory in phonology is a textbook for an advancedlevel phonology course that contains excerpts from 33 important articles and manuscripts on optimality theory ot. Optimality theory ot, is a linguistic model proposing that the observed forms of language. All content is freely available in electronic format full text html, pdf, and pdf plus to readers across the globe. However, ot radically differs from earlier generative models in various ways. The focus is on phonology, which is where the theory thus far has had its greatest impact. Optimality theory an introduction publish your master. Optimality theory the novel approach to linguistic theorizing known as optimality theory prince and smolensky 1993 appears to offer the prospect of a major change in this situation. Optimality theory rene kager frontmatter more information. Optimality theory and african language phonology cascadilla.
Constraint interaction in generative grammar compiles the most important readings about optimality theory in phonology from some of the most. Jan 01, 2004 between 1993 and 2004, prince and smolenskys optimality theory was by far the most widely circulated manuscript among phonologists. Mccarthy, university of massachusetts, amherst ot does not need to permanently influence linguistic theory. After a brief overview of the gapapaiwa language to serve as a context, a data set of reduplicated forms is presented. The proposed hierarchy incorporates two constraints, namely extendedlapser, which restricts stress to one of the last three syllables, and alignleft, which demands that the left edge of the prosodic word be aligned with a foot. Optimality theory has drawn a good deal of criticism, most of which is directed at its application to phonology rather than syntax or other fields.
First, phonological grammar is not arranged in the manner of chomsky and halle 1968. After closely examining previous proposals, i conclude that kager s 1999 model of lo is most promising. Optimality theory is a general model of how grammars are structured. Optimality theory as applied to language was originally proposed by the linguists.
For a more easier introduction, i recommend optimality theory. K35 1999 4101dc21 9839103cip isbn0521580196hardback. Surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing demands or constraints. Ur in optimality theory ot, focusing in particular on the proper method of lexicon optimization lo, a mechanism in ot that determines a real input among various possible inputs. Optimality theory presented by ashour abdulaziz, eric dodson, jessica hanson, and teresa li. Download pdf cambridge textbooks in linguistics optimality theory book full free. Optimality theory cambridge textbooks in linguistics rene. We first give an ordertheoretic counterpart for the data and processinvolved in candidate evaluation. Optimality theory cambridge textbooks in linguistics free epub, mobi, pdf ebooks download, ebook torrents download. Cambridge core phonetics and phonology optimality theory by rene. For a tutorial introduction to optimality theory with special attention to acquisition issues, see barlow and gierut 1999 and kager 1999.