Copyright (c) 2010 All rights reserved. http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy Recent documents in John J. McCarthy en-us Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:59:59 PST 3600 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/102 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/102 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:07:08 PST John J. McCarthy 2009 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/101 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/101 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:48:46 PDT According to the P-Map, a phonological mapping is less faithful to the extent that there is more perceptual distance between its input and output. Although this idea is attractive, it cannot be implemented in the standard parallel version of Optimality Theory. This note explains why and shows how a derivational version of OT, Harmonic Serialism, can solve this problem. John J. McCarthy 2009 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/100 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/100 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:31:03 PDT Revised December 2009 This paper is a shorter (and probably better) version of "Harmony in Harmonic Serialism." Like its big brother, it argues that Harmonic Serialism answers the conundrum of how iterative autosegmental spreading is obtained in Optimality Theory. John J. McCarthy 2009 2011 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/99 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/99 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:04:27 PDT The markedness constraints of classic Optimality Theory assign violation-marks to output candidates without reference to the input or to other candidates. This paper explores an alternative conception of markedness that is comparative: markedness constraints compare the candidate under evaluation with another candidate, the most faithful one. Comparative constraints distinguish two situations: the candidate under evaluation contains an instance of a marked structure that is also present in the fully-faithful candidate; or the candidate under evaluation contains an instance of a marked structure that is not present in the fully faithful candidate. The empirical consequences of comparative markedness are explored, including grandfather effects (i.e., blocking by emergent markedness constraints), derived environment effects, non-iterating processes, coalescence paradoxes, and counterfeeding opacity. Theoretical questions concerning harmonic ascent and other topics will also be discussed. Comparative markedness is found to have some advantages and some disadvantages in comparison with classic OT and alternatives like local conjunction, stratal OT, sympathy, and targeted constraints. John J. McCarthy 2002 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/98 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/98 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:05:17 PDT John J. McCarthy 2001 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/97 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/97 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:03:12 PDT John J. McCarthy 1995 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/96 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/96 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:33:24 PDT Hidden Generalizations is the first monograph devoted exclusively to the problem of phonological opacity. Opacity arises when the conditions for or results of an active phonological process are not evident in the speech signal. Opacity is particularly important in Optimality Theory, which lacks the standard means of analyzing opacity, rule ordering.This book is a thorough reexamination of phonological opacity. It finds insights in the extensive literature on rule interaction of the 1970s. It describes and critiques the oft-voiced opinion that there are no authentic cases of opacity. It evaluates representational approaches to opacity that emerged in the 1980s. Primarily, though, it discusses various ideas about opacity in OT and offers a new proposal, candidate chain theory. This proposal is illustrated and tested with analyses of the phonology of several Semitic languages.Table of Contents:1. Overview of the issues and the results; 2. Opacity, derivations, and Optimality Theory; 3. Candidate chains and phonological opacity; 4. Two Case Studies; 5. Postscript; 6. References John J. McCarthy 2007 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/95 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/95 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:31:03 PDT Optimality Theory revolutionized the field of phonology and had a huge impact on linguistics in general when it was first proposed in 1993. In Doing Optimality Theory, one of the key proponents of the theory explains how to do analysis and research using this model. Because the basic premises of OT are markedly different from other linguistic theories, new analytic techniques and new ways of thinking and theorizing are required.This unique work presents practical, in-depth advice for students in the field in an engaging and accessible way. McCarthy illustrates his advice with specific examples throughout, and summarizes the core concepts of OT so that the book is geared for an audience both novice and advanced. Numerous questions and exercises throughout are designed to give readers an in-depth understanding of the material.Doing Optimality Theory is an ideal guide through the intricacies of linguistic analysis and research for an audience of both advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and, by example, will lead the way to future developments in the field. Table of Contents:1. An Introduction to Optimality Theory; 2. How to Construct an Analysis; 3. How to Write Up an Analysis; 4. Developing New Constraints; 5. Language Typology and Universals; 6. Some Current Research Questions. John J. McCarthy 2008 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/94 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/94 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:13:49 PDT Optimality Theory in Phonology: 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 Smolensky's never-before-published Optimality Theory: Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar. This book compiles the most important readings about Optimality Theory in phonology from some of the most prominent researchers in the field, and contains 33 excerpts spanning a range of topics in phonology and including many never-before-published papers. Includes a lengthy excerpt from Prince and Smolensky's foundational 1993 manuscript Optimality Theory: Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar, as well as introductory notes and study/research questions for each chapter.Table of Contents:Part I: The Basics; Part II: Formal Analysis; Part III: Prosody; Part IV: Segmental Phonology; Part V: Interfaces. John J. McCarthy 2004 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/93 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/93 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:08:53 PDT This book describes Optimality Theory from the top down, explaining and exploring the central premises of OT and the results that follow from them. Examples are drawn from phonology, morphology, and syntax, but the emphasis throughout is on the theory rather than the examples, on understanding what is special about OT and on equipping readers to apply it, extend it, and critique it in their own areas of interest. The book's coverage extends to work on first- and second-language acquisition, phonetics and functional phonology, computational linguistics, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics. Chapters conclude with extensive suggestions for further reading, classified by topic, and are supplemented by a massive bibliography (over 800 items).Table of Contents:Introduction: an overview of optimality theory; Part I. Core: 1. Basic architecture; 2. Constraint typology; 3. Modes of interaction; 4. Illustration; Part II. Context: 5. Classic generative phonology; 6. Conspiracies; 7. Representations and constraints on representations; 8. Other constraint theories (TCRS, DP, etc.); Part III. Results: 9. Endogenous constraints; 10. Consequences of markedness/faithfulness interaction; 11. Consequences of constraint violability; 12. Consequences of parallelism; Part IV. Connections: 13. Learnability and acquisition; 14. Parsing; Morphology and the lexicon; 15. Syntax and semantics; 16. Language variation and change; Part V. Issues and prospects: 17. Functionalism; 18. Opacity; 19. Serial OT; 20. Local conjunction; 21. 'Overkill'; 22. Other topics. John J. McCarthy 2002 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/92 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/92 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:40:20 PDT John J. McCarthy 2004 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/91 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/91 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:39:07 PDT John J. McCarthy 1998 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/90 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/90 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:37:12 PDT John J. McCarthy 1992 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/89 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/89 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:40:28 PDT The special status of coronals in consonant clusters. John J. McCarthy 1979 1977 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/88 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/88 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:42:51 PDT This study deals with the formal character of phonological representations and rules. Two basic lines of investigation are pursued. One, the metrical, holds that there is hierarchic metrical structure within syllable structure and of stress is elaborated based on data from Tiberian Hebrew, Classical Arabic, and the modern Arabic dialects of Cairo and Damascus. The effects of syllable structure on the form and function of segmental phonological rules are adumbrated with data from Tiberian Hebrew as well. The role of metrical structure in vowel harmony also figures briefly.The other formal line followed is prosodic. An essentially autosegmental theory of nonconcatenative morphology is developed and extensively illustrated with data from Classical Arabic and Tiberian Hebrew. A general constraint limiting the morphology to context-sensitive rewrite rules is developed and defended on the basis of this theory. The prosodic model is also shown to solve several traditional problems in the characterization of reduplication phenomena. Finally, a theory of internally-structured lexical entries is proposed and is demonstrated to have significant empirical consequences within this morphological system. John J. McCarthy 1979 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/87 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/87 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:20:37 PDT John J. McCarthy 2006 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/86 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/86 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:18:53 PDT John J. McCarthy 2006 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/85 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/85 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:16:49 PDT John J. McCarthy 2003 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/84 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/84 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:15:38 PDT John J. McCarthy 2003 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/83 http://works.bepress.com/john_j_mccarthy/83 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:14:21 PDT John J. McCarthy 2003