Parallelism and planes in optimality theory: evidence from afar

_Summary

<sub>In this Chapter I have analyzed phonological phenomena which play a role in the analysis of the variable-position affixes. Specifically, I have discussed the structure of syllables, closed syllable long-vowel shortening, final-vowel shortening and the absence of [y] following a consonant. In analyzing these phenomena, the constraints in (150) are motivated.

(150) Constraints motivated in this chapter

a. onset

b. align-l

c. final-c

d. s-wt

e. dep (c)

f. fsv

g. dep (m)

h. max (m)

i. tone

j. y/n q

k. wh q

l. *Cy

m. max (y)

n. max (y’)


In addition, the rankings in (151) were established for the non-exceptional cases. (Also listed are the phenomena which motivated each ranking).

(151) Rankings Motivated by Phonological Phenomena</sub>

Rankings	Word- Final Short Vowels	Initial vs. Medial Onsets	Short Vowels in Closed Syllables	Absence of [y] following consonants	Prosody
align l >> onset		4
fsv >> max (m)	4
dep (c) >> max (m)	4		4
ons >> max (m)	4		4
s-wt >> max (m)			4
s-wt >> dep (m)					4
y/n q >> dep (m)					4
wh q >> dep (m)					4
tone >> dep (m)					4
max (c) >> max (m)			4
y/n q >> fsv					4
*Cy >> max (y)				4
max (y’) >> max (y)				4

<sub>The corresponding constraint hierarchy is seen in (152). A line between two constraints indicates a dominance relation.

(152) Phonological Constraint Hierarchy</sub>

_{In the Chapter 3 I introduce the variable-position affixes in Afar and offer an analysis in Optimality Theory.}