This tutorial presents an introduction to the contemporary linguistic framework known as
optimality theory (OT). The basic assumptions of this constraint-based theory as a general …

This is an introduction to Optimality Theory, whose central idea is that surface forms of
language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing constraints. A surface form is' …

There are a variety of phonological asymmetries exhibited by segments which appear in
perceptually or psycholinguistically prominent positions such as roots, root-initial syllables …

This book describes Optimality Theory from the top down, explaining and exploring the
central premises of OT and the results that follow from them. Examples are drawn from …

Paradigmatic OO-Identity constraints force overapplication of phonology in the Austronesian
language Sundanese. In plurals created by infixation, progressive nasal assimilation applies …

This groundbreaking new study takes a novel approach to reduplication, a phenomenon
whereby languages use repetition to create new words. Sharon Inkelas and Cheryl Zoll …

Despite the pervasiveness of lenition in the sound systems of natural language, this class of
patterns has eluded adequate characterization in previous theories of phonology …

This paper proposes a set of constraints within the framework of Optimality Theory that
accounts for syllable-final laryngeal neutralization and voicing assimilation in obstruent …

The distribution of the feature [high] in Shona verbs is a prototypical example of positional
neutralisation accompanied by vowel harmony. In languages which exhibit positional …

This chapter presents some recent results on a central aspect of Japanese phonology,
namely, the structure of the phonological lexicon. The issue here is the fundamental division …