Kager s explanations are clear, and he does a god job walking you through the various topics. Notes on optimality theory college of the holy cross. About this document this article is a draft of my chapter on markedness and faithfulness constraints in the blackwells companion to phonology chapter 74. It also addresses some frequently asked questions about this theory and offers suggestions. Li 817 morphophonology and ot assignments answer key n. Positional faithfulness and voicing assimilation in optimality theory. Optimality theory by rene kager, 1999 online research. Optimality theory, telling me to read the kager book, and talking through so many issues about so many different topics and so many different papers. 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. Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax. Ot can be seen as an ot version of the variable rule format. Introduction in the score years since phonologist alan prince and cognitive scientist paul smolensky first detailed their optimality theory ot.
The emergence of the unmarked optimality in prosodic. 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. Pullum university of california, santa cruz we develop an extensible description logic for stating the content of optimality theoretic constraints in phonology, and specify a class of structures for interpreting it. Optimality theory in phonology california institute of. It is a theory that has been most widely accepted in the realm of phonology, but has implications for all areas of linguistics. Chapter 1 starts with an introduction of the main concepts of optimality theory. The original violation tableau format of prince and smolensky 2004 is illustrated. Optimality theory cambridge textbooks in linguistics. Optimality theory prince and smolensky 1993, mccarthy and prince 1993a,b turns markedness statements into the actual substance of grammars. Optimality theory was introduced in the 1990s by linguists alan prince and paul smolensky optimality theory. For each chapter, mccarthy adds brief introductory notes and a list of study and research questions.
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. Cambridge core phonetics and phonology optimality theory by rene kager. Li 817 morphophonology and ot assignments answer key 1 assignment 1 assigned w2, due w3 1. In optimality theory, forms are marked with respect to some constraint if they violate it. This is an introduction to optimality theory, whose central idea i. Isbukun, a major dialect of bunun, is one of the austronesian languages spoken in taiwan. An idempotent phonological grammar maps phonotactically licit forms faithfully to themselves.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. This constitutes a viable alternative to the mainstream view on phonological systems, optimality theory 1, which require the presence of innate linguistically specific constraints in the genome to account for universal tendencies an example of constraint is the complex constraint which states. Constraint interaction in generative grammar, 19932004. Building on tesar, these conditions are derived in two steps. Karttunen, rene kager, paul kiparsky, mike kenstowicz, ellis visch, andras kornai, akin. Stress assignment in polysyllabic words in levantine arabic. 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. 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. Jan 17, 2017 optimality theory ot is a wideemployed theoretical framework used in contemporary linguistics. In derivational phonology, effects that are inexplicable at the surface. Constraint interaction in generative grammar compiles the most important readings about optimality theory in phonology from some of the most prominent. Optimality theory cambridge textbooks in linguistics 9780521589802.
However, the domain of opacity is not so clear in ot. Keywords alignment optimality theory harmonic serialism 1 preliminaries the generalized alignment ga. Finally, in chapters 6 and 7 an exemplary implementation for ot syntax is presented. 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. Mccarthy points out that some of the most significant work on ot is available for free on the rutgers optimality archive. Optimality theory is the prevalent theoretical framework for phonological analysis within the generative framework today. Optimality theory and african language phonology cascadilla. Markedness is built into grammars in the form of universal output constraints. Many criticisms of ot are, according to its proponents, based on fundamental misunderstanding of how it works. Click download or read online button to get a formal theory of vowel coalescence book now. Compensatory lengthening as segment number preservation. Aspects of generative phonology and basic concepts of optimality theory will be explored. It is claimed that optimality theory cannot account for phonological opacity see idsardi 2000, for example. Optimality theory thisisanintroductiontooptimalitytheory,thecentralideaofwhich isthatsurfaceformsoflanguagere.
I would also like to thank my other committee member, keith langston. Hyde philosophy department, washington university, campus box 1073, 1 brookings drive, st. Optimality theory is a general model of how grammars are structured. Goal of this tutorial this tutorial will provide an introduction to optimality theory, a model that proposes that the surface forms we find in language result from the interaction of competing constraints. However, ot radically differs from earlier generative models in. The original reference for ot is prince and smolensky 1993. This paper establishes tight sufficient conditions for idempotency in classical optimality theory. Optimality theory ot is a wideemployed theoretical framework used in contemporary linguistics. Optimality theory an introduction patrick schmitz term paper advanced seminar english. Ot reclaims traditional grammars ability to express surface generalizations. Download pdf optimality theory and minimalism free. The fundamental idea behind ot is that surface forms of language. Optimality theory jhu computer science johns hopkins university. Kager 1999 and leben 2006 points out, in contrast to autosegmental theory, ot is not primarily a theory of representations.
Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Rene kagers textbook is one of the first to cover optimality theory ot, a declarative grammar framework that swiftly took over phonology after it was introduced. Optimality theory, phonological theory now provides a framework that meets. Mccarthy, university of massachusetts, amherst ot does not need to permanently influence linguistic theory. First, idempotency is shown to follow from a general formal condition on the faithfulness constraints. Roa, which was created by alan prince in 1993, is an electronic depository of work in, on, or about ot. 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. The standard phonological rule aims to encode grammatical generalizations in this format.
A reader is a collection of readings on this important new theory by leading figures in the field, including a phonology. A formal theory of vowel coalescence download ebook pdf. A central hypothesis of rulebased generative phonology is that rules have exclusive access to. These notes explain the procedures and assumptions behind a valuable technique using in studying adaptation called optimality theory. Surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing demands or constraints. A surface form is optimal if it incurs the least serious violations of a set of constraints, taking into account their hierarchical ranking.
Alignment constraints 791 and edge1 and edge2 are the relevant edges. Optimality theory ot shifts the focus of linguistic discovery from rules and derivations to constraints and rankings. In linguistics, optimality theory frequently abbreviated ot. As the familiar formulation in 1 states, the edge1 of every acat1 must coincide with the edge2 of some acat2. Portions of chapters 2, 3, 6, and 7 appeared in earlier form as chapter 12 of linguistics. No prior knowledge of ot is required, though it is assumed that all participants are familiar with the goals. Mccarthy university of massachusetts amherst abstract. Surface opacity of metrical structure in optimality theory rutgers. Having only done rule based phonology, i didnt find optimality theory to be at all intuitive at first. 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. Optimality theory prince and smolensky 1993 offers an approach to linguistic theory that aims to combine an empirically adequate theory of markedness with a precise formal sense of what it means to be unmarked. Kager 1999 gives an entrylevel introduction to ot, mccarthy 2001 surveys.
Model theory and the content of ot constraints christopher potts geo. Optimality theory cambridge textbooks in linguistics series by rene kager. Optimality theory has attracted substantial amounts of criticism, most of which is directed at its application to phonology rather than syntax or other fields. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Kagers book provides a comprehensive overview of ot theory and practice. 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. Li 817 morphophonology and ot assignments answer key 1 assignment 1 assigned w2, due w3. Within ot, these phenomena involving intermediate stages seem problematic due to the parallelist character of the theory, where there are no intervening levels or stages. 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, basically applied in phonology, has been used as theoretical framework in other fields e. The emergence of the unmarked optimality in prosodic morphology.
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. Optimality theory and ethical decision making1 steve and monica parker sil, papua new guinea branch. Optimality theory by rene kager cambridge university press. For sound files, updated web links, typo corrections, and other material, please visit the website for this text at jinguistics ucla edupeoplehayesip.
Inclass discussion questions designed by responsible students. A central hypothesis of rule based generative phonology is that rules have exclusive access to. Ot reclaims traditional grammars ability to express surface generalizations syl. Optimality theory, in common with much recent work, shifts the burden from the theory of. Pay particular attention to the critiques of optimality theory. Rene kager s textbook is one of the rst to cover optimality theory ot, a declarative grammar framework that swiftly took over phonology afterit was introduced by prince, smolensky, and mccarthy in 1993. Archangeli 1997, tesar, grimshaw, and prince 1999, kager 1999. Ot differs from other approaches to phonological analysis.
However, ot radically differs from earlier generative models in various ways. I truly would not be on the path on which i now find myself without your guidance. An introduction to linguistic theory by victoria frumkin etal 2000, blackwell. The correctness of this constraint ranking can be represented in a tableauformat. Appears in computational linguistics 262, june 2000. The book is intended to satisfy the needs of students and professional researchers interested in pragmatics and optimality theory, and will be of particular interest to those exploring the interfaces of formal pragmatics with grammar, semantics, philosophy of language, information theory and cognitive psychology.
Ren kager s textbook is one of the first to cover optimality theory ot, a declarative grammar flamework that swiftly took over phonology after it was introduced by prince, smolensky, and. This article surveys the motivations for ot, its core principles, and the basics of analysis. Advantages and shortcomings of these theories will be discussed. I used this a few years back in a graduate level phonology course. This is an introduction to optimality theory, whose central idea is that surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing constraints. Stress assignment in polysyllabic words in levantine.
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