Optimality theory presented by ashour abdulaziz, eric dodson, jessica hanson, and teresa li overview introduction how to interpret ot historical development theory application pros and cons optimality theory central idea. Final version of the widely circulated 1993 technical report that was the seminal work in optimality theory, never before available in. Ot differs from other approaches to phonological analysis, such as autosegmental phonology and linear phonology spe, which typically use rules rather. This is done in three studies comparing i rule operations and faithfulness constraint violations, ii serial rule interaction and hierarchical constraint interaction, and iii derivational sequences and harmony scales. However, ot radically differs from earlier generative models in various ways.
Input is an fsa that accepts mappings from the given input to any output. Pdf the word final phonology of lardil was brought to the attention of linguists by ken hale in the 1960s and since then certain properties of the. The study of lardil phonology in kenstowicz and kisseberth 1979. The key distinction between markedness and faithfulness constraints is introduced. The discussion will hopefully also dispel some common. The reason for the attention to the issue is that classic optimality theory ot cannot handle. In biology, optimality models are a tool used to evaluate the costs and benefits of different organismal features, traits, and characteristics, including behavior, in the natural world. The word final phonology of lardil was brought to the attention of linguists by ken hale in the 1960s and since then certain properties of the data have led it to occupy a privileged position, in a canon of data sets against which new theoretical. Optimality theory assumes that these components are universal. Description this thesis conducts a formal comparison of optimality theoretic phonology with its predecessor, rulebased derivational phonology. A comparison through the analyses oflardil and modern hebrew yasushi yoshimoto 1. It also addresses some frequently asked questions about this theory and offers suggestions. The publication year of this book is 1999 and the theory is still going through the evolutional process.
Optimality theory optimality theory prince and smolensky 1993 ot is a theory of constraint interaction. In contrast, it is still an open question what the input consists of in optimality theoretic syntax. As the theory of representations in syntax has ramified, the theory of operations has dwindled in content, even to triviality and, for some, nonexistence. Optimality theory history it is a linguistic model proposing that the observed forms of language arise from the interaction between conflicting constraints. Optimality theory has drawn a good deal of criticism, most of which is directed at its application to phonology rather than syntax or other fields.
These restrictions can be formalized in terms of constraints. However, there are known cases of phonological processes, including those found in lardil and modern hebrew. It allows for the calculation and visualization of the costs and benefits that influence the outcome of a decision, and contributes to an understanding of adaptations. A lexically filled optimality theory approach, ssrn electronic journal, 10. Optimality theory was introduced in the 1990s by linguists alan prince and paul smolensky optimality theory. Optimality models assess this balance in living things, and optimal foraging theory applies it directly to food acquisition. Optimality theory has transformed the field of linguistics more than almost any other development of the past halfcentury, and prince and smolensky started it all. Ot differs from other approaches to phonological analysis, such as autosegmental phonology and linear phonology spe, which typically use. Therefore, d cannot be the optimal candidate under any ranking of just these three constraints, though it could be optimal with a larger. In this weeks episode, we take a look at optimality theory. Section 2 gives an example of syntax within the theory. What is the universal set of constraints in optimality theory. This article surveys the motivations for ot, its core principles, and the basics of analysis.
Optimality theory is a general model of how grammars are structured. This book is the final version of the widelycirculated 1993 technical report that introduces a conception of grammar in which wellformedness is defined as optimality with respect to a ranked set of universal constraints. For a more easier introduction, i recommend optimality theory. Crossref teodor petric and joseph paul stemberger, permanent and temporary phonological influences in slovenian irregular verb production, language, cognition and neuroscience, 29, 4, 470, 2014. Theory, in which markedness has no substantive status in the grammar, but functions as an external system of annotations on parameter values, evaluating a grammars complexity. Alignment and optimality theory this paper looks at the linguistic phenomenon of alignment,in which languages show a preference for certain linguistic features to be aligned with other linguistic features. Formal comparison and synthesis russell james norton a thesis submitted for the degree of doctor of philosophy department of language and linguistics university of essex july 2003. Part i shows how the ideas play out over a variety of phenomena and generalization patterns.
That approach made sense in the spe theory of phonology, where the goal of the analysis was to construct and order a set of languageparticular rules. The prevailing nonsequential approach to phonology, the optimality theory, ot, is based not on rewrite rules but on constraints. Historically, optimality theory develo ped out of a theory called harmonic grammar legendre et al. Section 3 examines possible implications of optimality theory for studies of language processing, discussing work on the computability of optimality theoretic grammars, as well as some conceptual similarities between optimality theory and work in connectionism and dynamical systems. The winning candidate in otp can be defined recursively. Pdf on the nature of the input in optimality theory. This evaluation allows researchers to make predictions about an organismss optimal behavior or other aspects of its phenotype. Offers proposals and analytic commentary that suggest many directions for further development for the. Jan 01, 2004 optimality theory has transformed the field of linguistics more than almost any other development of the past halfcentury, and prince and smolensky started it all. Nov 30, 2016 in this weeks episode, we take a look at optimality theory.
Constraints are universal but each language may rank them differently. Final version of the widely circulated 1993 technical report that was the seminal work in optimality theory, never before available in book format. Optimality theory is a development of generative grammar, a theory sharing its focus on formal description and quest for universal principles, on the basis of empirical research of linguistic typology and first language acquisition. A reader is a collection of readings on this important new theory by leading figures in the field, including a lengthy excerpt from prince and smolenskys neverbeforepublished optimality theory. Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax, morphology, pragmatics, language change, and other areas. A function called gen maps each lexical form into all possible output candidates. The approach based on optimality models in biology is sometimes called optimality theory.
Part of language acquisition can then be described as the process of adjusting the ranking of these constraints. Linguistic and cognitive explanation in optimality theory. Pay particular attention to the critiques of optimality theory. Living things must strike a balance between the energy used to acquire. Lardil presents a relatively well known case of subtractive. In this article we consider the notion of input in optimality theory in more detail. Introduction thepurpose ofthisstudyis to compare optimality theoryandrulebased phonology, focusing onlimited setsofdata from larclil andmodem hebrew.
Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax, morphology, pragmatics, language change, and other. Ot models grammars as systems that provide mappings from inputs to outputs. Optimality theory ot is a linguistic model originally proposed by the linguists alan prince and paul smolensky in 1993. Repns is an fsa that accepts all syntactically wellformed otp representations of inputoutput mappings. Differences in grammars reflect different rankings of the universal constraint set, con. The universal set of constraints is on a par with the choir invisible. On the nature of the input in optimality theory citeseerx. Only the comparison between input and output makes clear how often parse is actually violated by an output structure. Constraint interaction in generative grammar, 19932004. Constraint interaction in generative grammar alan prince, paul smolenskyauth. Many criticisms of ot are, according to its proponents, based on fundamental misunderstanding of how it works. Gabriel abend northwestern university theory is one of the most important words in the lexicon of contemporary sociology. Morphological segmentzero alternations in lardil without strata or opacity.
Optimality theory as applied to language was originally proposed by the linguists. Apr 15, 2008 final version of the widely circulated 1993 technical report that was the seminal work in optimality theory, never before available in book format. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. There are far too many candidates, and no consensus at all on what there is to be constrained, how it is to be constrained, and what to do about exceptions and counterexamples. It espouses a serialist view of morphology that is rejected by most current phonologists. Description in this paper i argue that an otapproach to grammar is actually essential to minimalist investigations, because it dramatically widens the set of linguistic properties potentially reducible to interface conditions while at the same time dispensing with interfaceexternal language specific provisos.
Success depended on generating all of the correct forms using maximally simple rules. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing demands or constraints. Candidate d, however is harmonically bounded by a, and by c.
These notes explain the procedures and assumptions behind a valuable technique using in studying adaptation called optimality theory. Serves as an excellent introduction to the principles and practice of optimality theory. Ot reclaims traditional grammars ability to express surface generalizations. Mccarthy university of massachusetts amherst abstract. Mccarthy, university of massachusetts, amherst ot does not need to permanently influence linguistic theory. Optimality modeling is the modeling aspect of optimization theory. Optimality theory will be welcomed by any linguist with a basic knowledge of derivational generative phonology. The goal of this chapter is to overview optimality theory ot, prince and smolen. Rene kagers textbook is one of the rst to cover optimality theory ot, a declarative grammar framework that swiftly took over phonology afterit was introduced by prince, smolensky, and mccarthy in 1993. On the nature of the input in optimality theory 349 note that the input is crucial for this analysis, since a violation of faithfulness i. Despite the evolution, this book still serves any newcomer of phonology. The main idea is that grammars impose a set of restrictions on what are valid surface forms. Mar 03, 2012 optimality theory in linguistics by kie zuraw 1.
Doing optimality theory 2 alternations in latin third declension nouns, for instance. In optimality theoretic phonology, it is usually assumed that the input is an underlying representation henceforth ur. Your book is focused on oldfashioned rewrite rules. On the nature of the input in optimality theory universitat leipzig.
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