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