Lecture 5Lecture 5

Syllable ComplexitySyllable Complexity

Possibility & ExistencePossibility & Existence

‘‘pulp’pulp’ ‘camp’‘camp’ ‘kept’‘kept’

((existingexisting))

non-sensenon-sense((possiblepossible))

non-sensenon-sense

((impossibleimpossible))

Tripartite DistinctionTripartite Distinction

The dimensions of possibility and existence need The dimensions of possibility and existence need to be kept carefully apart:to be kept carefully apart:

Existing WordsExisting Words HaphazardHaphazard lexical inclusionlexical inclusion Non-existent but Possible Words Non-existent but Possible Words

PhonologicalPhonological well-formednesswell-formedness

Non-existent and Impossible Words Non-existent and Impossible Words

Possible vs. ImpossiblePossible vs. Impossible

A liquid only occurs as a left sibling:A liquid only occurs as a left sibling:PossiblePossible ImpossibleImpossible

A left nasal sibling assimilates, in place, to its A left nasal sibling assimilates, in place, to its right sibling:right sibling:

PossiblePossible ImpossibleImpossible

Why?Why?

Sonority SequencingSonority SequencingThe sonority gap of two degrees is relaxed (pink, The sonority gap of two degrees is relaxed (pink,

film, …).film, …). AssimilationAssimilationThe restriction follows from the rule of place The restriction follows from the rule of place

assimilation in nasals.assimilation in nasals. Two StopsTwo StopsSonority Sequencing that requires a post vocalic fall Sonority Sequencing that requires a post vocalic fall

in sonority is either too strong or that two stops in sonority is either too strong or that two stops do not constitute a complex coda.do not constitute a complex coda.

??

No RiseNo Rise

Can we say that there are no sonority restrictions on Can we say that there are no sonority restrictions on English complex English complex codas codas ??

However, sonority does not rise in complex However, sonority does not rise in complex codascodas.. What can we say about the words below, where only What can we say about the words below, where only

the first vowel, in spelling, has phonetic reality?the first vowel, in spelling, has phonetic reality?

SonoritySonorityfunnelfunnel …… nasal (nasal (22)) >> liquid (liquid (33))buttonbutton …… obstruent (obstruent (11)) >> nasal nasal

((22))sicklesickle …… obstruent (obstruent (11)) >> liquid liquid

((33))

Monosyllabic or BisyllabicMonosyllabic or Bisyllabic

At first sight, such forms may seem to At first sight, such forms may seem to syllabify as:syllabify as:onset + simple nucleus + complex codaonset + simple nucleus + complex coda

(( CC VV CCCC )) However, closer inspection reveals that those However, closer inspection reveals that those

forms are not monosyllabic; they are forms are not monosyllabic; they are bisyllabic:bisyllabic:

‘‘funnel’funnel’ ‘‘button’button’‘‘sickle’sickle’

Monosyllabic or BisyllabicMonosyllabic or Bisyllabic

OO RR OO RR OO RR

NN CdCd NN NN

Sonority ProfileSonority Profile

The reason for the divergent The reason for the divergent syllabification is the syllable sonority syllabification is the syllable sonority profile shaped by the Sonority profile shaped by the Sonority Sequencing Principle.Sequencing Principle.

A word like A word like silksilk will comply with this will comply with this principle, but a monosyllabic principle, but a monosyllabic sicklesickle will not.will not.

One Syllable One PeakOne Syllable One Peak

SI

LK

Sonority

0

1

2

3

4

Sonority

One Syllable Two Peaks ?One Syllable Two Peaks ?

SI

KL

Sonority

0

1

2

3

4

Sonority

Non-vocalic NucleiNon-vocalic Nuclei

The sonority trough on [k] prevents The sonority trough on [k] prevents the consonant cluster [kl] from being the consonant cluster [kl] from being a valid coda.a valid coda.

English is a language that relaxes the English is a language that relaxes the requirement of vocalic nuclei.requirement of vocalic nuclei.

A sonorant consonant is allowed as A sonorant consonant is allowed as nucleus.nucleus.

Two Syllables Two PeaksTwo Syllables Two Peaks

S I . K L

Sonority

00.51

1.52

2.5

3

3.5

4

Sonority

SemivowelsSemivowels

The non-syllabic segments /w/ and /j/, in words like The non-syllabic segments /w/ and /j/, in words like wellwell and and yesyes, are semivowels (glides or semi-, are semivowels (glides or semi-consonants).consonants).

They have the They have the phoneticphonetic characteristics of vowels, but characteristics of vowels, but the the phonologicalphonological behaviour of consonants: behaviour of consonants:

- produced without obstructing the airflowproduced without obstructing the airflowvowelsvowels

- always occurring in syllable margins, but never as always occurring in syllable margins, but never as nucleinuclei

consonantsconsonants

SemivowelsSemivowels

OO RR OO RR

NN CdCd NN CdCd

Sonority ScaleSonority Scale

In the sonority scale, semivowels In the sonority scale, semivowels occupy an intermediate level occupy an intermediate level between vowels and liquids:between vowels and liquids:Most sonorousMost sonorous 55 VowelsVowels

44 SemivowelsSemivowels 33 LiquidsLiquids 22 NasalsNasals

Least sonorousLeast sonorous 11 ObstruentsObstruents

Minimum Sonority DistanceMinimum Sonority Distance

The sonority distance restriction imposed on The sonority distance restriction imposed on English onset siblings is set as a English onset siblings is set as a minimumminimum not as not as a fixed value.a fixed value.

The liquid obstruent difference of (2) is the The liquid obstruent difference of (2) is the minimum:minimum:

33 -- 11 == 22ll pp (pli:z)(pli:z) ‘please’‘please’

However, the semivowel obstruent difference is However, the semivowel obstruent difference is certainly higher:certainly higher:

44 -- 11 == 33ww kk (kwi:n)(kwi:n) ‘queen’‘queen’

FormalizationFormalization

OO RR

NN

xx yy

Sonority Conditions:Sonority Conditions:(i)(i) yy 44(ii)(ii) yy -- xx 22

GapsGaps

Consider the following:Consider the following:

twintwin ------dwelldwell ------thwartthwart ------swellswell ------queenqueen ------GwynGwyn Why ?Why ?

Place of ArticulationPlace of Articulation

Like many other languages, English Like many other languages, English dislikes siblings with an identical place dislikes siblings with an identical place of articulation.of articulation.

This is a phonologically motivated This is a phonologically motivated restriction.restriction.

This offers a justification for those This offers a justification for those gaps.gaps.

Both sounds in such clusters share the Both sounds in such clusters share the feature [labial].feature [labial].

The OCPThe OCP

This This tendencytendency of constituent siblings not of constituent siblings not to have similar places of articulation is to have similar places of articulation is stated formally in the OCP:stated formally in the OCP:

Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP):Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP):Similar melodies are disfavoured as Similar melodies are disfavoured as

constituent siblings.constituent siblings. The OCP is more of a tendency than a The OCP is more of a tendency than a

principle, and it is subject to a principle, and it is subject to a considerable number of exceptions.considerable number of exceptions.

Segment ParsingSegment Parsing

Segment parsing into syllabic Segment parsing into syllabic subconstituents is guided by the subconstituents is guided by the sonority profile.sonority profile.

English peaks require a sonority level English peaks require a sonority level of 5:of 5:

N N N N N NN N N N N N

5 5 5 5 5 55 5 5 5 5 5

Segment ParsingSegment Parsing

Segments to the left of the nucleus are parsed in the onset, Segments to the left of the nucleus are parsed in the onset, and those to its right to the coda.and those to its right to the coda.

Parsing is conditional on compatibility with the Sonority Parsing is conditional on compatibility with the Sonority Sequencing:Sequencing:

O R O RO R O R O R O R O R O R O R O R O R O R

N N Cd N Cd N Cd N Cd N N N Cd N Cd N Cd N Cd N CdCd

1 3 5 1 5 11 3 5 1 5 1 2 5 1 1 5 22 5 1 1 5 2 1 5 2 1 1 5 21 5 2 1 1 5 2

Onset FulfilmentOnset Fulfilment

An intervocalic consonant such as /f/ in An intervocalic consonant such as /f/ in traffictraffic qualifies, in principle, as an onset or qualifies, in principle, as an onset or as a coda.as a coda.

However, languages show an However, languages show an overwhelming tendency to assign an overwhelming tendency to assign an intervocalic consonant to the onset.intervocalic consonant to the onset.

This situation is expressed in the principle This situation is expressed in the principle of Minimal Onset Satisfaction:of Minimal Onset Satisfaction:Minimal Onset SatisfactionMinimal Onset SatisfactionMinimal satisfaction of onsets takes Minimal satisfaction of onsets takes priority over satisfaction of codas.priority over satisfaction of codas.

Theory-internal JustificationTheory-internal Justification

Minimal Onset Satisfaction maintains Minimal Onset Satisfaction maintains core syllablecore syllable parsing: parsing:

/VCVCV//VCVCV/ [V.[V.CVCV..CVCV]]

*[VC.VC.V]*[VC.VC.V]

Empirical JustificationEmpirical Justification

In non-rhotic accents of English, the /In non-rhotic accents of English, the // is / is not phonetically realized in words like not phonetically realized in words like carcar , , barbar, …, …

These accents do not admit [These accents do not admit [] in codas.] in codas. However, the /However, the // is realized phonetically in / is realized phonetically in

words like words like carriagecarriage, , barringbarring, …, when , …, when parsed as an onset.parsed as an onset.

Therefore, whenever the two positions are Therefore, whenever the two positions are available, available, onset satisfaction takes priority onset satisfaction takes priority over satisfaction of codasover satisfaction of codas..

Empirical JustificationEmpirical Justification

OO RR OO RR OO RR

NN NN CdCd NN

‘‘barring’barring’ ‘bar’‘bar’

Intervocalic ConsonantsIntervocalic Consonants

Consider the forms below with Consider the forms below with intervocalic consonant clusters:intervocalic consonant clusters:

cocomplmplyy cocontrntriveive rereclclineinecocomprmpressess rerecrcruituit Intuitively, the relevant syllable Intuitively, the relevant syllable

divisions are as follows:divisions are as follows:comcom..plyply concon..trivetrive rere..clineclinecomcom..presspress rere..cruitcruit

Intervocalic ConsonantsIntervocalic Consonants

However, the following divisions are However, the following divisions are also possible, as they incur no also possible, as they incur no violation of Sonority Sequencing and violation of Sonority Sequencing and maintain Minimal Onset Satisfaction:maintain Minimal Onset Satisfaction:

compcomp..lyly contcont..riverive recrec..lineline

compcomp..ressress recrec..ruitruit Why not ?Why not ?

AspirationAspiration

A voiceless stop, in English, is aspirated A voiceless stop, in English, is aspirated when it occurs in the when it occurs in the onsetonset of a stressed of a stressed syllable.syllable.

The marked are aspirated:The marked are aspirated:

comcompplyly conconttriverive rerecclineline

comcomppressress rereccruitruit So, they must qualify for the description, of So, they must qualify for the description, of

occurring in an occurring in an onset onset rather than a coda.rather than a coda.

Onset MaximizationOnset Maximization

Intervocalic consonant clusters are Intervocalic consonant clusters are allotted to the onset, unless allotted to the onset, unless prevented by conditions on prevented by conditions on syllabification. This is formalized as syllabification. This is formalized as follows:follows:

Onset MaximizationOnset Maximization

Maximal formation of onsets takes Maximal formation of onsets takes priority over formation of codas.priority over formation of codas.

Initial Initial ssC ClustersC Clusters

Consider the following forms:Consider the following forms:slowslow sl-sl- (sonority distance 4 – 2 = 2)(sonority distance 4 – 2 = 2)smallsmall sm-sm- (sonority distance 3 – 2 = (sonority distance 3 – 2 = 11))snowsnow sn-sn- (sonority distance 3 – 2 = (sonority distance 3 – 2 = 11))spyspy sp-sp- (sonority distance 1 – 1 = (sonority distance 1 – 1 = 00))staystay st-st- (sonority distance 1 – 1 = (sonority distance 1 – 1 = 00))skysky sk-sk- (sonority distance 1 – 1 = (sonority distance 1 – 1 = 00))spherespheresf-sf- (sonority distance 1 – 1 = (sonority distance 1 – 1 = 00)) Why (Minimal Sonority Distance) ?Why (Minimal Sonority Distance) ?

Initial Initial ssC ClustersC Clusters

Consider the following:Consider the following:

gapgap gapgap gapgap sleepsleep

Why (OCP) ?Why (OCP) ?

Initial Initial ssC ClustersC Clusters

Consider the following:Consider the following:

Initial three-consonant clusters in English:Initial three-consonant clusters in English:

[[ NucleusNucleus …]…]

Gaps: [spw], [stl], [stw]Gaps: [spw], [stl], [stw]

Why (three-member onsets) ?Why (three-member onsets) ?

Extrasyllabicity Extrasyllabicity

The facts considered provide strong motivation to treat The facts considered provide strong motivation to treat word-initial [s] differently.word-initial [s] differently.

Being initial, allows licensing by association to a higher Being initial, allows licensing by association to a higher domain (Prosodic Word), hence its extrasyllabic status:domain (Prosodic Word), hence its extrasyllabic status:

PWPW

OO RR

NN

Summing upSumming up

Sonority Sequencing is operative throughout the syllable.Sonority Sequencing is operative throughout the syllable. Vowels will generally form syllable nuclei and consonants Vowels will generally form syllable nuclei and consonants

syllable margins.syllable margins. However, Sonority Sequencing may drive sonorant However, Sonority Sequencing may drive sonorant

consonants into nuclei.consonants into nuclei. Phonotactic discrepancies between C/w/ and C/l/ onsets are Phonotactic discrepancies between C/w/ and C/l/ onsets are

accounted for by the Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP) accounted for by the Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP) which disfavours similar melodies in constituent siblings.which disfavours similar melodies in constituent siblings.

The parsing of word medial consonants is governed by two The parsing of word medial consonants is governed by two principlesprinciples

- Minimal Onset Satisfaction imposes the formation of a Minimal Onset Satisfaction imposes the formation of a minimal onset in preference to a coda to conform to the minimal onset in preference to a coda to conform to the Core Syllable CV.Core Syllable CV.

- Onset Maximization favours the parsing of word-medial Onset Maximization favours the parsing of word-medial clusters as onsets.clusters as onsets.

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