scholarly journals Formal versus Functional Explanation for a Universal Theory of Syllable Structure: The Case of Vowel Epenthesis in Winnebago

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-34
Author(s):  
Stuart Davis ◽  
Karen Baertsch
Keyword(s):  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Universal Theory ◽  
Functional Explanation ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis

scholarly journals Sonority Sequencing Principle in Sabzevari Persian: A Constraint-Based Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 434-465
Author(s):  
Mufleh Salem M. Alqahtani
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Consonant Clusters ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
Repair Strategy ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Northeast Iran

AbstractThis study sheds light on the relationship between the Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) and syllable structure in Sabzevari, a Persian vernacular spoken in the Sabzevar area of Northeast Iran. Optimality Theory (OT), as a constraint-based approach, is utilized to scrutinize sonority violation and its repair strategies. The results suggest that obedience to the SSP is mandatory in Sabzevari, as shown through the treatment of word-final clusters in Standard Persian words which violate the SSP. These consonant clusters are avoided in Sabzevari by two phonological processes: vowel epenthesis and metathesis. Vowel epenthesis is motivated by final consonant clusters of the forms /fricative+coronal nasal/, /plosive+bilabial nasal/, /fricative+bilabial nasal/, /plosive+rhotic/, /fricative+rhotic/, and /plosive+lateral/. Metathesis, as another repair strategy for sonority sequencing violations, occurs when dealing with final consonant clusters of the forms /plosive+fricative/and / fricative+lateral/.

scholarly journals Medial Tri-Consonantal Clusters in UrbanJordanian Arabic

2020 ◽  
pp. 45-56
Keyword(s):  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis

This study investigates syllable structure andsyllabification patterns in Urban JordanianArabic. The focus falls on the case ofmorphologically derived medial tri-consonantalclusters. Such constructions involve theconcatenation of a CVCC syllable with a -CVsuffix. We argue that morphologically-derivedmedial tri-consonantal clusters in UJA areresolved when two consonants share a single morathrough the process of adjunction-to-mora (Broselow,1992; Broselowet al. 1995, 1997). Thisargument challenges Kiparsky’s (2003) typologywhich maintains that VC-dialects, towhich the dialect of UJA belongs, deal with suchclusters by means of syllable-unaffiliated morascalled semisyllables lexically and bymeans of vowel epenthesis post-lexically.Contrary to this, we argue that CVCC syllablesare bimoraic under a mora-sharing analysis whichthen allows -CCC- clusters to surface withinCVCC.CV syllables without the need to resort tosemisyllables. Keywords: syllable structure, tri-consonantal clusters,mora-sharing, semisyllable, Urban JordanianArabic.

scholarly journals Vowel-consonant metathesis in Nivaĉle

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-307
Author(s):  
Analía Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Theoretical Interpretation ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis ◽  
Empirical Coverage

AbstractVowel-consonant metathesis is observed in a variety of contexts throughout the Nivaĉle (Mataguayan) grammar. It occurs in both verbal and nominal domains, characteristically resulting from the affixation of a consonant-initial suffix to a consonant-final stem. This paper provides an optimality theoretic account for vowel-consonant metathesis and vowel epenthesis in Nivaĉle. It is demonstrated that metathesis responds to phonological requirements; specifically, it serves to avoid marked structures in the language: complex codas, derived complex onsets, and bad syllable contacts. The prosodic analysis of syllable structure constraints aims to provide broad empirical coverage, as well as a coherent and integrated theoretical interpretation.

Unexpected obstruent loss in initial obstruent–sonorant clusters: an apparent example from Basque

Phonology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-522
Author(s):  
Juliette Blevins ◽  
Ander Egurtzegi
Keyword(s):  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Romance Languages ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis ◽  
Apparent Loss ◽  
Show Evidence

The apparent loss of initial obstruents in Basque borrowings from Romance (e.g.laru≪ Lat.claru) is striking. While Proto-Basque is generally reconstructed as lacking initial clusters, the expected repair in loans, based on typology, phonology and phonetics, is copy-vowel epenthesis, not obstruent loss. Indeed, there is evidence for a vowel-copy process in Basque in other loans with obstruent–sonorant clusters (e.g.gurutze≪ Lat.cruce). We suggest that initial obstruent loss before /l/ but not /r/ is related to Romance developments. In the Romance varieties in contact with Basque, /fl pl bl kl gl/ all show evidence of neutralisation to /ʎ/ word-initially. We hypothesise that obstruent loss in words like Basquelarureflects influence from local Romance languages at a time when Basque lacked /ʎ/. In contrast, vowel copy conforming to Basque syllable structure was the norm in Romance loanwords with clusters not affected by this process.

Hittite vowel epenthesis and the sonority hierarchy

Diachronica ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-299
Author(s):  
Darya Kavitskaya
Keyword(s):  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Writing System ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis

Summary This study examines the distribution of non-etymological vowels in Hittite and shows that non-etymological a is used in contexts where syllabification problems are not expected, suggesting that a is purely orthographic and brought on only by the practices of the cuneiform writing system. Non-etymological i is used in clusters which cannot be syllabified to obey the sonority hierarchy. Therefore, i is linguistically real and epenthetic. The paper argues that the distribution of these vowels is thus predictable and depends solely on the constraints on syllable structure and the sonority hierarchy. Résumé Cette étude examine la distribution des voyelles non étymologiques en Hittite et montre que le /a/ non étymologique est utilisé dans les contextes où aucun problème de syllabation n’est attendu. Ceci suggère que ce /a/ est purement orthographique et qu’il résulte du système d’écriture cunéiforme. La voyelle non étymologique /i/ est utilisée dans les groupes consonantiques qui ne peuvent pas être syllabés à cause de la hiérarchie de sonorité. Ce /i/ est donc réellement phonologique et épenthétique. Cet article supporte l’idée que la distribution de ces deux voyelles est prévisible et dépend seulement des contraintes de structure syllabique et de la hiérarchie de sonorité. Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die Distribution nicht-etymologischer Vokale im Hethitischen und zeigt, daß nicht-etymologisches a in Kontexten vorgefunden wird, in denen keine Silbifizierungsprobleme zu erwarten wären. Dies deutet auf einen rein orthographischen Charakter des a hin, dessen Ursprung in der Keilschrift liegt. Nicht-etymologisches i hingegen wird in Konsonantenfolgen verwendet, die nicht im Einklang mit der Sonoritätshierarchie silbifiziert werden können. i muß daher als linguistisch real sowie als epenthetisch im eigentlichen Sinne eingestuft werden. Es wird gezeigt, daß die Erscheinung dieser Vokale systematisch ist und allein auf der Basis von Silbenregeln und der Sonoritätshierarchie ermittelt werden kann.

scholarly journals Excrescent vowels in Lamkang prefix sequences

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-213
Author(s):  
Mary Burke ◽  
Shobhana Chelliah ◽  
Melissa Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Short Vowel ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis ◽  
Short Vowels ◽  
Epenthetic Vowel

AbstractLamkang is a Trans-Himalayan language spoken in the Chandel District of Manipur, India by under 10,000 ethnically Naga people. Due to a complex person indexation system in Lamkang clauses, multiple prefixes with the shape C- are attached to a verb stem creating lexemes with the shape CCCCVC. To make such forms pronounceable, speakers insert super-short vowel-like segments between the C- prefixes. Combining acoustic analysis with speakers’ intuitions about syllable structure, we examine the nature of these segments, arguing that an accurate phonetic description of Lamkang vowels must include these super-short vowels, as well as long and short vowels, which are phonemically distinct. We call these super-short vowels excrescent, following the terminology discussed in Hall (2011. Vowel epenthesis. In Marc van Oostendorp, Colin J. Ewen, Elizabeth V. Hume & Keren Rice (eds.), The blackwell companion to phonology, 1576–1596. Oxford: Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781444335262.wbctp0067: 1584). The excrescent vowel is a type of epenthetic vowel, sometimes also called “intrusive”, and is typified by its short duration and centralized quality distinct from lexical vowels. It is unstressed and has the phonetic effect of helping to transition between consonants. We show that the excrescent vowels in Lamkang have formant structures that barely resemble the characteristic formant profiles of the short and long vowels. While excrescent vowels are not contrastive, they are phonologically relevant because they have just enough sonority to form nuclei of CiVCii syllables where Cii is often ambisyllabic with the following syllable. The Lamkang data show that while any language-specific phonotactic constraints must reference the syllable, what constitutes a syllable must include the possibility of excrescent vowels as nuclei.

Sobre el concepto de función en biología. Historia y problemas recientes

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés L. Jaume
Keyword(s):  
Biological Function ◽  
Mechanistic Explanation ◽  
Functional Explanation ◽  
Function Concept ◽  
Philosophical Thinking ◽  
Systemic Theory ◽  
Points Of View

RESUMENEl presente artículo analiza las diferentes teorías que sobre el concepto de función se han vertido en los últimos cuarenta años y sus problemas. Respecto de los dos grandes enfoques (histórico-etiológico y sistémico) se sostiene que el primero, pese a su hegemonía histórica, presenta considerables dificultades y que la reflexión actual se centra cada vez más en la perspectiva sistémica. Esta última puede enfrentarse mejor a los diversos problemas que genera el concepto de función biológica y es siempre preferible.PALABRAS CLAVEFUNCIÓN BIOLÓGICA, FUNCIÓN SISTéMICA, EXPLICACIÓN FUNCIONAL, EXPLICACIÓN BASADA EN MECANISMOS, TELEOLOGíAABSTRACTThis paper analyzes the different theories on biological function and the problems they brought up over the last forty years. Concerning the two most important points of view on functions (aetiological theory and systemic theory) I hold that the aetiological theory, despite its historical hegemony, presents substantial difficulties and that the present philosophical thinking is centred on systemic theories. Systemic theories are capable of solving the various problems generated by the biological function concept which is preferable.KEYWORDSBIOLOGICAL FUNCTION, SySTEMIC FUNCTION, FUNCTIONAL EXPLANATION, MECHANISTIC EXPLANATION TELEOLOGY

Synergetic Theory of Document in Evolution of Document Science

2018 ◽  
pp. 1060-1068
Author(s):  
Galina A. Dvoenosova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Role ◽  
Scientific Study ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Universal Theory ◽  
Social Self ◽  
Social Goal ◽  
The Social ◽  
Synergetic Theory ◽  
First Time

The article assesses synergetic theory of document as a new development in document science. In information society the social role of document grows, as information involves all members of society in the process of documentation. The transformation of document under the influence of modern information technologies increases its interest to representatives of different sciences. Interdisciplinary nature of document as an object of research leads to an ambiguous interpretation of its nature and social role. The article expresses and contends the author's views on this issue. In her opinion, social role of document is incidental to its being a main social tool regulating the life of civilized society. Thus, the study aims to create a scientific theory of document, explaining its nature and social role as a tool of social (goal-oriented) action and social self-organization. Substantiation of this idea is based on application of synergetics (i.e., universal theory of self-organization) to scientific study of document. In the synergetic paradigm, social and historical development is seen as the change of phases of chaos and order, and document is considered a main tool that regulates social relations. Unlike other theories of document, synergetic theory studies document not as a carrier and means of information transfer, but as a unique social phenomenon and universal social tool. For the first time, the study of document steps out of traditional frameworks of office, archive, and library. The document is placed on the scales with society as a global social system with its functional subsystems of politics, economy, culture, and personality. For the first time, the methods of social sciences and modern sociological theories are applied to scientific study of document. This methodology provided a basis for theoretical vindication of nature and social role of document as a tool of social (goal-oriented) action and social self-organization. The study frames a synergetic theory of document with methodological foundations and basic concepts, synergetic model of document, laws of development and effectiveness of document in the social continuum. At the present stage of development of science, it can be considered the highest form of theoretical knowledge of document and its scientific explanatory theory.

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