arXiv subjects

T. Mark Ellison

Publications and source records attributed to T. Mark Ellison.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv1995

Phonological Derivation in Optimality Theory

Optimality Theory is a constraint-based theory of phonology which allows constraints to be violated. Consequently, implementing the theory presents problems for declarative constraint-based processing frameworks. On the basis of two regularity assumptions, that candidate sets are regular and that constraints can be modelled by transducers, this paper presents and proves correct algorithms for computing the action of constraints, and hence deriving surface forms.

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arXiv1995

Constraints, Exceptions and Representations

This paper shows that default-based phonologies have the potential to capture morphophonological generalisations which cannot be captured by non-defaul theories. In achieving this result, I offer a characterisation of Underspecification Theory and Optimality Theory in terms of their methods for ordering defaults. The result means that machine learning techniques for building non-defualt analyses may not provide a suitable basis for morphophonological analysis.

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