Alan Prince, Paul Smolensky

Optimality Theory

Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Available for the first time in book form, Prince and Smolensky's Optimality Theory is the seminal work in the field. This influential work: - Defines grammatical well-formedness as optimality with respect to a ranked set of universal constraints - Presents the theory both through examples and formally, emphasizing its core commitments: strict domination, the Markedness/Faithfulness distinction, strong universality of the constraint set, interlinguistic variation as variation in ranking - Illuminates generalization patterns shared across empirically diverse phenomena ranging from epenthesis to infixation to complex dependencies among prominence, syllabification, stress and word-form - Derives universals of basic syllable structure and constructs a prosodic theory based on multipolar scales, laying the groundwork for a domain-general approach to gradient interactions - Shows how to obtain universal and language-particular inventories, identifies the role of optimality in structuring the lexicon, and deals with key foundational issues. For the newcomer, this pivotal work serves as an excellent introduction to the principles and practice of Optimality Theory. For the professional audience, it will suggest many directions for further exploration and development.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley
• Seitenzahl: 304
• Erscheinungstermin: 24. September 2004
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 254mm x 178mm x 16mm
• Gewicht: 576g
• ISBN-13: 9781405119337
• ISBN-10: 1405119330
• Artikelnr.: 22124737

Autorenporträt

Alan Prince is Professor of Linguistics and a member of the Cognitive Science Center at Rutgers University and is, along with Paul Smolensky, one of the founders of Optimality Theory. He has published in journals such as Linguistic Inquiry, Science, Cognition, and Critical Inquiry. Paul Smolensky is Professor of Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University. His publications include Learnability in Optimality Theory (with Bruce Tesar, 2000) and Mathematical Perspectives on Neural Networks (edited with Michael Mozer and David Rumelhart, 1996).

Inhaltsangabe

1. Preliminaries.

2. Optimality in Grammar: Core Syllabification in ImdlawnTashlhiyt Berber.

3. Generalization-Forms in Domination Hierarchies IBlocking andTriggering: Profuseness and Economy.

4. Generalization-Forms in Domination Hierarchies IIDo SomethingExcept When: Blocking, or The Theory of Profuseness.

5. The Construction of Grammar in Optimality Theory.

6. Syllable Structure Typology I: the CV Theory.

7. Constraint Interaction in Lardil Phonology.

8. Universal Syllable Theory II: Ordinal Construction of C/V andOnset/Coda Licensing Asymmetry.

9. Inventory Theory and the Lexicon.

10. Foundational Issues and Theory-Comparisons.

Appendix.

A.1 The Cancellation and Cancellation/Domination Lemmas.

A.2 CV Syllable Structure.

A.3 Pâòini's Theorem on Constraint-ranking.

References.

Index

Rezensionen

"This is a very important book. Optimality Theory hastransformed the field of linguistics more than almost any otherdevelopment of the past half-century, and Prince and Smolenskystarted it all." John J. McCarthy, University ofMassachusetts, Amherst

"OT does not need to permanently influence linguistic theory: ithas already done so. Between 1993 and 2004, Prince andSmolensky's Optimality Theory was by far the mostwidely circulated manuscript among phonologists. Fortunately, it isnow available for a larger audience in this text edition."René Kager, Utrecht University