The Phonology of English: A Prosodic Optimality-Theoretic Approach

by Michael Hammond

Overview

The Phonology of English offers a new approach to English phonology. It focuses on the prosody of the language, i.e. syllable and foot structure, and does so from an optimality-theoretic (OT) perspective. The book is thus intended as a detailed presentation of novel empirical results about the sound system of English, along with important theoretical results about phonological theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198700296
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/10/1999
Series:	The ^APhonology of the World's Languages
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	1170L (what's this?)

About the Author

Michael Hammond is Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona. He has also held the position of Assistant Professor at the Universities of Arizona, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Minnesota.

Table of Contents

1. Some Basic IdeasThe sounds of English; Characterizing the sounds of English; Phonological generalizations; Treating phonological generalizations; Optimality Theory; Further reading2. SyllablesIntuitive evidence for the syllable; Distributional evidence for a syllable; A general theory of the syllable; Further reading3. English Syllables: margins and consonantsWord onsets; Word-final clusters; Medial clusters; Clusters vs. margins; Linear restrictions;Summary; Further reading4. English syllables: peaks and morasVowels and diphthongs; Co-occurrence restrictions; Mora-based restrictions; Syllabic consonants and [r]; Summary; Further reading5. Stress, Accent, and FeetWhat is stress?; What is a metrical foot?; Intuitive evidence for the foot; Distributional evidence for the foot; General theory of the foot; Further reading6. Syllables and StressBasic distributional regularities; The analysis; Summary; Further reading7. The Rightmost StressReview of previous results; The basic analysis; The role of syllable weight; Other nominal stress patterns; Final syllables; Verbs and adjectives; Summary; Further reading8. Other StressesOther stresses; Long vowels; Nonfinal primary stress; Morphemes and feet; Summary; Further reading9. AfterwordSome remaining issues; Statistics; Russian; Remaining issues; Further readingReferences

Editorial Reviews

"This book offers a comprehensive account of English phonology based on distributional regularities as opposed to alternations. The book is remarkably systematic and thorough in its presentation of the patterning of the segmental sequences found in English syllables and of the patterns of English word stress. The book also offers interesting and intriguing analyses of these patterns couched within optimality theory, for which the author provides a clear introduction."—Stuart Davis, University of Illinois

"English Phonology examines the fascinating topic of distributional patterns in the phonology of English, a language with a well-studied and complex phonology, framed within Optimality Theory. It will find an audience ranging from the student to the active researcher, and will define research directions in theoretical phonology and English phonology for some time to come."—Keren Rice, University of Toronto

From the Publisher