On prefixal one-rule string rewrite systems

International audiencePrefixal one-rule string rewrite systems are one-rule string rewrite systems for which the left-hand side of the rule is a prefix of the right-hand side of the rule. String rewrite systems induce a transformation over languages: from a starting word, one can associate all its descendants. We prove, in this work, that the transformation induced by a prefixal one-rule rewrite system always transforms a finite language into a context-free language, a property that is surprisingly not satisfied by arbitrary one-rule rewrite systems. We also give here a decidable characterization of the prefixal one-rule rewrite systems whose induced transformation is a rational transduction

Computational Perspectives on Phonological Constituency and Recursion

Whether or not phonology has recursion is often conflated with whether or not phonology has strings or trees as data structures. Taking a computational perspective from formal language theory and focusing on how phonological strings and trees are built, we disentangle these issues. We show that even considering the boundedness of words and utterances in physical realization and the lack of observable examples of potential recursive embedding of phonological constituents beyond a few layers, recursion is a natural consequence of expressing generalization in phonological grammars for strings and trees. While prosodically-conditioned phonological patterns can be represented using grammars for strings, e.g., with bracketed string representations, we show how grammars for trees provide a natural way to express these patterns and provide insight into the kinds of analyses that phonologists have proposed for them.Que la fonologia mostri o no recursivitat sovint va lligat al fet que tingui o no cadenes o arbres en l'estructura de les seves dades. A partir de la perspectiva computacional de la teoria formal del llenguatge i tenint en compte com es construeixen les cadenes i els arbres fonològics, mirem de destriar aquestes qüestions. Mostrem que, fins i tot tenint en compte la limitació de paraules i enunciats en la realització física i la manca d'exemples observables d'incorporació recursiva potencial de constituents fonològics més enllà d'unes poques capes, la recursivitat és una conseqüència natural de l'expressió de generalitzacions fonològiques per a cadenes i arbres. Tot i que els patrons fonològics condicionats prosòdicament es poden representar utilitzant gramàtiques per a cadenes, per exemple amb representacions amb claudàtors, mostrem com les gramàtiques amb arbres proporcionen una manera natural d'expressar aquests patrons i proporcionen coneixement rellevant sobre els tipus d'anàlisis d'aquests patrons que s'han proposat des de la fonologia

Chapter Cross-linguistic considerations on preverb stacking (with special reference to Bulgarian)

The term preverb stacking (PS) designates the co-occurrence on one verbal base of two or more prefixes bearing spatial, aspectual, or quantificational meanings. The phenomenon is especially productive in Slavic but is also attested in other Indo-European and non-Indo-European languages. This paper provides a first attempt at a cross-linguistic typology of PS. It will also pay attention to problems typical of Slavic (i.e. the interaction of PS and the aspectual value of the verb in terms of the typical Slavic perfective vs. imperfective dichotomy). Special attention will be paid to Bulgarian

Revisiting Top-Down Primary Stress

Metrical theory recognizes differences between primary and non-primary stresses, sometimes within the same language. In serial theories, this has often led to a parametric approach in derivation: some languages are 'top-down', with the primary stress assigned first, while other languages are 'bottom-up', where foot construction precedes primary stress placement. This paper examines two languages (Cahuilla and Yine) that have be treated as 'top-down' in rulebased metrical theory, and it shows that neither requires a top-down analysis in Harmonic Serialism, a derivational version of Optimality Theory. On the basis of these case studies it is argued that the common, intuitive notion of what makes a language 'top-down'-a primary stress's independence from non-primary stresses-is oversimplified. The case studies reveal the importance of theoretical framework and typological predictions in establishing the order of primary and non-primary stress assignment. The argument culminates in a concise statement of Harmonic Serialism-specific criteria for establishing that a top-down derivation is required.La teoria mètrica admet diferències entre l'accent primari i el no primari, de vegades dins la mateixa llengua. En les teories serials, això ha comportat sovint un enfocament paramètric de la derivació: algunes llengües comencen per dalt (top-down), amb l'assignació de l'accent primari en primer lloc, mentre que d'altres comencen per baix (bottom-up), en les quals la construcció del peu precedeix l'assignació de l'accent primari. Aquest article examina dues llengües (cahuilla i yine) que han estat considerades top-down en la teoria mètrica basada en regles, i demostra que cap de les dues requereix aquest tipus d'anàlisi en el marc del serialisme harmònic, una versió derivacional de la teoria de l'optimitat. Prenent aquestes llengües com a base, l'article sosté que la noció general i intuïtiva del que fa que una llengua sigui top-down -l'accent primari independent del no primari- és massa simplificada. Els casos estudiats palesen la importància del marc teòric adoptat i de les prediccions tipològiques en l'establiment de l'ordre d'assignació de l'accent primari i no primari. L'argumentació culmina amb una relació concisa dels criteris específics per a establir els requisits d'una derivació top-down dins el serialisme harmònic

Formal problems in semitic phonology and morphology

Thesis. 1979. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Linguistics and Philosophy.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND HUMANITIES.Vita.Bibliography: leaves 419-426.by John Joseph McCarthy, III.Ph.D

Features, positions and affixes in autonomous morphological structure

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Linguistics and Philosophy, 1992.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 307-319).by Robert Rolf Noyer.Ph.D

The role of prefixes in the formation of aspectuality

One of the most widely debated topics in Slavic linguistics has always been verbal aspect, which takes different forms because of the various grammaticalization paths which led to its emergence. In the formation of the category of aspect in Slavic languages, a key role was played by the morphological mechanism of prefixation (a.k.a. preverbation), whereby the prefixes (which originally performed the function of markers of adverbial meanings) came to act as markers of boundedness. This volume contains thirteen articles on the mechanism of prefixation, written by leading international scholars in the field of verbal aspect. Ancient and modern Slavic varieties, as well as non-Slavic and even non-Indo-European languages, are represented, making the volume an original and significant contribution to Slavic as well as typological linguistics

Aspects of Somali Phonology.

Somali is probably the best documented, in linguistic terms, of all of the Cushitic languages. Much work has been undertaken on the syntax and the morphology of the language. However, when it comes to the phonology of the language there is a distinct lack. The aim of this thesis is to help fill that gap. This will be done by taking the generative theory of lexical phonology as a basis of a model of Somali phonology; within that overall framework a model of melodic representation will be proposed as well as a model of prosodic representation. The proposals are made specifically with the Somali language in mind and explanations of certain aspects of Somali phonology will be set out both in the chapters discussing the models of representation as well as in the chapter specifically dealing with the explanation of a number of phonological phenomena manifested in the inflectional morphology of the language. The thesis does not cover the whole set of phonological phenomena manifested in Somali, nor does it set out to produce a universal model of phonology. As far as Somali is concerned, it is hoped the work will provide a convenient springboard for the future study of phonological phenomena in Somali. As far as universal phonological matters are concerned it is hoped that the model proposed here for Somali will be another step in the continuing search for universal explanatory aspects of phonology. Chapter one introduces the language and the main theoretical assumptions. Chapters 2 and 3 introduce the models of melodic representation and prosodic representation respectively. Chapter 4 provides explanations for certain phonological phenomena manifested in the inflectional morphology of Somali. Chapter 5 brings the whole together and looks forward to the future study of Somali phonology in light of this thesis