The main objective of this book is to account for some aspects of the prosodic phonology of Ayt Wirra Tamazight Berber within the framework of Optimality Theory as conceived in Prince and Smolensky (1993) and McCarthy and Prince (1993a) and developed in the Correspondence model of McCarthy and Prince (1995, 1999) and other related works. In fact, one of the least studied linguistic phenomena in Berber phonology is stress. Apart from the impressionistic and linear treatments conducted by scholars who investigated the metrics of different varieties of Berber (cf. Laoust (1918 –1939), Apllegate (1958), Abdel-Massih (1968), Prasse (1972), Chami (1979), Bounfour (1985), etc.), recent studies of Berber phonology conducted within the non-linear metrical framework include Adnor (1995), Marouane (1997) and Faizi (2002). For this reason, the present book claims that the stress system and stress assignment are better understood as cases involving interaction between two types of conflicting universal constraints: markedness constraints and faithfulness constraints.
The book provides a series of exercises that allows students not only to learn about phonology, but also to do phononological analysis.
Table of Contents
- Chapter I: Metrical Analyses of AWTB Stress
- 1.1: The Syllable Weight Concept
- 1.2: The Extraprosodicity Concept
- 1.3: Inherent Deficiencies of Metrical Analyses
- Chapter II: Stress Facts of AWTB Nouns and Verbs
- 2.1: Syllable Structure
- 2.2: Stress Assignment
- 2.3: Stress and Morphological Structure
- Chapter III: Optimality-Theoretic Account of AWTB Stress
- 3.1: The Constraint Hierarchy
- 3.2: The Role of Extraprosodicity in OT
- 3.3: The Interaction of Constraints
Objectives and Key Themes
This book aims to enhance the understanding of Berber stress by applying Optimality Theory (OT) principles to analyze stress assignment in Awjila-Tamajaq-Tifinagh Berber (AWTB) prosodic words. It aims to demonstrate that while non-linear metrical analyses offer valuable insights, they are not sufficient to fully explain the surface facts of AWTB nouns and verbs. The interaction of different constraints within OT is crucial to account for the placement of stress in these grammatical categories. The book focuses on the prosodic status of extraprosodic affixes and clitics.
- Stress assignment in AWTB
- Application of Optimality Theory (OT) to Berber phonology
- Role of constraints in determining stress placement
- Prosodic status of extraprosodic affixes and clitics
- Comparison of OT and non-linear metrical analyses
Chapter Summaries
Chapter I provides a comprehensive review of existing metrical analyses of AWTB stress, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It examines the concepts of syllable weight and extraprosodicity, analyzing their role in previous studies. The chapter concludes by identifying inherent deficiencies in the metrical framework for adequately accounting for AWTB stress patterns.
Chapter II presents a detailed description of the stress facts observed in AWTB nouns and verbs. It analyzes the syllable structure, stress assignment rules, and the relationship between stress and morphological structure. This chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent OT analysis.
Keywords
Berber stress, Optimality Theory (OT), prosodic words, extraprosodicity, constraints, syllable weight, metrical analysis, Awjila-Tamajaq-Tifinagh Berber (AWTB), phonology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Optimality Theory (OT) in linguistics?
Optimality Theory is a linguistic framework where surface forms of language are determined by the interaction of conflicting universal constraints, rather than fixed rules.
What is the focus of the book regarding Berber phonology?
The book analyzes stress assignment in Ayt Wirra Tamazight Berber (AWTB), exploring nouns and verbs within the OT framework.
What are "markedness" and "faithfulness" constraints?
Markedness constraints demand well-formed outputs (easier to pronounce), while faithfulness constraints require the output to be as close as possible to the input form.
How does OT differ from traditional metrical theory?
OT relies on constraint ranking and interaction to explain stress, whereas traditional metrical theory often used linear, rule-based processes that struggled with complex surface facts.
What is "extraprosodicity" in this context?
Extraprosodicity refers to elements (like certain affixes) that are ignored by the stress assignment rules of a language, a phenomenon analyzed here through OT constraints.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Youcef Hdouch (Autor:in), 2016, From Metrical Theory to Optimality Theory, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/334893
