Optimality Theory
Optimality Theory
Linguistic theory in the 1990s. . . and beyond!
Optimality Theory
Universal Grammar (UG) Innate ability to learn language If there are common patterns in language they must be part of UG. We are born with them
Optimality Theory
Universal Grammar (UG) Innate ability to learn language If there are common patterns in language they must be part of UG We are born with them
If there are uncommon patterns they must not be part of UG
Optimality Theory
Variation Languages differ in how much they vary from common UG patterns
Markedness Common patterns are unmarked Uncommon patterns are marked
Unmarked patterns are though to show us what UG is like
Syllables
Case study: syllable structure Languages vary in their syllable structure
Syllables
Case study: syllable structure So, CV, CVC, CCV, are patterns in languages
What patterns are not found? a language where all words are made up of consonant clusters followed by vowels
a language where all words begin with consonant clusters
Syllables
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes1.Syllables begin with a C (ONSET)
1.have, found follow ONSET2.all, orb violate ONSET
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes1.Syllables begin with a C (ONSET)
1.have, found follow ONSET2.all, orb violate ONSET
2.Syllables have one V (PEAK)1.two, or follow PEAK2.tklt (in Berber) violate PEAK
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes1.Syllables begin with a C (ONSET)
1.have, found follow ONSET2.all, orb violate ONSET
2.Syllables have one V (PEAK)1.two, or follow PEAK2.purr violates PEAK
3.Syllables end in a V (NO CODA)1.throw, glee follow NO CODA2.thrown, light violate NO CODA
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes1.Syllables have one C the edge (*COMPLEX)(asterisk mean no, or doesn't have)1.car, leak follow *COMPLEX2.spill, ask violate *COMPLEX
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes1.Syllables have one C the edge (*COMPLEX)(asterisk mean no, or doesn't have)1.car, leak follow *COMPLEX2.spill, ask violate *COMPLEX
Constraints
In Optimality Theory (OT) constraints: are part of Universal Grammar can be violated languages differ according to what constraints are
violated, and the rank among the constraints
Constraints
In Yawelmani CV and CVC are OK CVCC and CC are not found
Constraints
In Yawelmani CV and CVC are OK CVCC and CC are not found Violations of NO CODA are OK, but not
violations of *COMPLEX and PEAK
Constraints
In English violations of all syllable constraints is permitted
Constraints
In generative phonology rules convert an underlying representation to a surface representation with rules
Constraints
In generative phonology rules convert an underlying representation to a surface representation with rules
Rules tell you what to do to the UR
Constraints
In generative phonology rules convert an underlying representation to a surface representation with rules
Rules tell you what to do to the UR In OT underlying representations are called
inputs Constraints tell you what you can't do to convert
an input to an output (surface form)
Faithfulness Constraints
FAITHFULNESS says input and output must be identical FAITHV says input and output vowels must be
same FAITHC says input and output consonants must be
the same
Constraint Violation
It's OK to violate a constraint if violating it satifies a higher ranking constraint
Consider a language where PEAK, ONSET, *COMPLEX, FAITHC and FAITHV are on on the same ranking level, and they all outrank NOCODA
To make a good syllable you could add a V or delete a C
Constraint Violation
Dotted lines show constraints at same level Solid lines show different level Pointing finger shows optimal candidate * Shows violation *! shows fatal violation Shaded box shows irrelevant
Steps in OT
Take the input and generate (GEN) an infinite number of possible outputs (add elements, delete them, modify them, anything goes)
Evaluate (EVAL) them to see how well they follow or violate the constraints and rankings of the language.
The output is the candidate that is optimal because it violates the fewest or lowest ranked constraints
OT's approach to linguistics
Language variation exists because constraints are ranked differently in different dialects
Language patterns arise because of language specific constraint rankings
What happens in Yawelmani when morphology puts three Cs together?
FAITHV is lowest ranked so epenthesis is allowed
What happens in Spanish when morphology puts three Cs together?
FAITHC is lowest ranked so deletion is allowed
What happens in English when morphology puts three Cs together?
*COMPLEX is lowest ranked so CCC is allowed
What happens in Berber when morphology puts three Cs together?
*PEAK is lowest ranked so /tf/ as a syllable is allowed
The difference between Yawelmani, Spanish, English, and Berber is the constraint ranking