The Theory of Lexical Phonology

“Linguistics Workshop“
WS 2003/2004

by

Stefanie Udema

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ...2

2. The Study of Linguistics ...3

3. Lexical Phonology ...3
3.1 Historical Background ...4
3.2 Lexical Phonology and Generative Phonology ...5
3.3 Lexical Phonology and Morphology ...5
3.3.1 Lexical and Postlexical Rules ...7
3.3.2 The Order of Affixes ...8

4. Phonological Effects of Word Formation Processes ...11
4.1 Vowel Shift Rule ...11
4.2 Vowel Reduction ...11
4.3 Voicing ...12
4.4 Palatalization ...12
4.5 Velar Softening ...13
4.6 Spirantization ...13
4.7 Spirantization and Palatalization ...14

5. Conclusion ...14

6. References ...16

1. Introduction

The study of linguistics is a large branch of knowledge that deals with language and communication systems. Since a variety of linguists work on different interests concerning this science, there have been a lot of theories and models to describe specific approaches in human language. Since Chomsky and Halle′s Sound Pattern of English (1968), there are a number of further developments according to linguistics.

The theory of lexical phonology is one part of the study of linguistics which passes through several conceptions from the 1950s until today. Lexical phonology was developed in the early 1980s by K. P. Mohanan and P. Kiparsky and is the one most similar to classical generative phonology. In the theory of lexical phonology, the lexicon is given a key role and that represents a significant departure from classical models.

In the following paper an outlook is given of what is meant by the term lexical phonology, and also a historical background to achieve a general overview.

After having arranged the theory into linguistics and historical developments, there is a distinction between lexical and generative phonology. The relation between lexical phonology and morphology with its sharp distinction between lexical and postlexical rules, is presented afterwards. The interaction of phonology and morphology with the levels of representation will be explained to get to mechanisms of phonological changes and the output of phonology. For that reason, the information of the arrangement of affixes will be given. Different word formation processes such as vowel shift rule, vowel reduction, voicing or stress placement are mentioned to show the effect on what was elaborated before.

The aim of this paper is to give a general overview of the theory of lexical phonology with its classical roots rather than to go into very specific details.

For further reading Kiparsky′s Explanation in Phonology (1982) or Mohanan′s Theory of Lexical Phonology (1986) is very recommendable.

2. The Study of Linguistics

Linguistics is defined as ′the science of language′ or ′the scientific study of language′. The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines it as ′the branch of knowledge that deals with language′. So linguistics refers to knowledge concerning spoken and written language without marking a specific one.

But like any other sciences there are a lot of other disciplines included in the study of linguistics. The term includes such areas as psychology and sociology as well as biology and physics. The linguistic occupation is to try to characterize a specific language, try to find regularities and work out theories that include the aspects they work on to make some linguistic occurrence clearer and even to solve linguistic problems. Omitting historical developments and debates on theoretical issues that belong to the study of linguistics, the science itself includes the following branches:

The lexicon, which is situated in discussion at present and I refer to later on;
Grammar, a systematic account of the structure of a language;
Phonetics, which attends to the sound of language and Phonology, which deals with sound patterns;
Morphology, that means the words of a language;
Syntax, concerning the sentence patterns and the question if a sentence is grammatical or not; Semantics, the study of meaning;
and a branch that is also included in linguistics and occupies linguists called Language Acquisition.

One part of linguistics called phonology, which is included into the study of linguistics as mentioned above, comprises the theory of lexical phonology.

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