Backness Distinction in Phonology - A Polish Perspective on the Phonemic Status of "y"

This book discusses the phonological consequences of the backness distinction in high vowels. It focuses on a single-phoneme approach which does not recognize the existence of the vowel y. The author demonstrates that the role of y is crucial for the analysis of Polish palatalization. If y is recognized as a separate phoneme, then the processes receive a straightforward account in Lexical Phonology and Optimality Theory, the two frameworks used in the study. On the other hand, the absence of y leads to unwarranted exceptionality and entails an extensive use of diacritics or lexical constraints. The analyses show, however, that the lack of y is empirically unfeasible and requires segment indexation, a solution unheard of in phonology.

List of contents

The phonemic status of the vowel «y» and its role in the processes of Polish palatalization - The treatment of lexical exceptions in phonology - The use of indexed constraints in Optimality Theory

Product details

• Authors: Pawe¿ Rydzewski, Pawel Rydzewski
• Publisher: Peter Lang
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.04.2017
• EAN: 9783631677254
• ISBN: 978-3-631-67725-4
• No. of pages: 144
• Dimensions: 148 mm x 14 mm x 210 mm
• Weight: 290 g
• Series: Lodz Studies in Language; Lódz Studies in Language; Lodz Studies in Language
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Other languages / Other literatures