The typology of rounding harmony: an optimality theoretic approach

The University of California, Los Angeles, 1995. - 206 p.
Язык: английский.This thesis explores the typology of rounding harmony within the framework of optimality theory. A systematic survey of the range of attested rounding harmony phenomena is presented and an analysis of this typology is proposed which invokes constraints based on perceptual and articulatory principles. A central element of the theory advanced here is the claim that vowel harmony is perceptually-motivated. Harmony serves to extend the duration of phonetic information which is phonologi cally important (i.e. distinctive), but which is transmitted by means of relatively subtle
acoustic cues. A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics.