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Mutation and learnability in Optimality Theory
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Wolf, Matthew (2008). Mutation and learnability in Optimality Theory. Proceedings of the North East Linguistic Society, NELS 38 Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3FQ9TJW

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TitleMutation and learnability in Optimality Theory
PublisherGLSA, University of Massachusetts
NameWolf, Matthew (Author)
Date Created2008
SubjectLearnability, Morphology, Phonology, Mutation, Morphene realization, Javanese language, Learnability, Hebrew language
Extent14 p.
DescriptionLearners face potential superset traps when presented with a target language which allows some marked phonological structure only when that structure occurs as the outcome of a morphological mutation process. For example, the vowel-tensing ablaut which marks elatives in Javanese can create tense vowels in closed syllables, even though such vowels are otherwise not allowed in the language. In this paper, I show that restrictive final grammars will be learned in these situations, under the assumptions that mutation processes result from special faithfulness to floating-feature affixes (Zoll 1996) and that learners have a Specific-F >> General-F bias (Smith 2000). I also show that such languages create a paradox for a purely declarative account of affixation: end-state restrictiveness in Javanese requires morpheme-realization constraints to be biased towards a ranking above IO-Faith, in tension with arguments by Adam & Bat-El (to appear) that data from child Hebrew require the opposite bias. I also show that the tension between the Javanese and Hebrew facts disappears under an item-based theory of morphology, where all affixation (including of the mutation variety) results from faithfulness to underlying structures.
NoteThe definitive version of this paper is published in NELS 38: Proceedings of the North East Linguistic Society (2008) and is available at https://www.createspace.com/3390689
GenreConference Paper or Lecture, Accepted Manuscript (AM)
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3FQ9TJW
LanguageEnglish
Data Life Cycle Event(s)
   Type: Citation
   Date: 2008
   Name: Proceedings of the North East Linguistic Society
   Reference: https://www.createspace.com/3390689
CollectionRutgers Optimality Archive
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
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