Optimality Theory
Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar
1. Edition August 2004
304 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-4051-1933-7
John Wiley & Sons
This book is the final version of the widely-circulated 1993
Technical Report that introduces a conception of grammar in which
well-formedness is defined as optimality with respect to a ranked
set of universal constraints.
* * Final version of the widely circulated 1993 Technical Report
that was the seminal work in Optimality Theory, never before
available in book format.
* Serves as an excellent introduction to the principles and
practice of Optimality Theory.
* Offers proposals and analytic commentary that suggest many
directions for further development for the professional.
1. Preliminaries.
2. Optimality in Grammar: Core Syllabification in Imdlawn
Tashlhiyt Berber.
3. Generalization-Forms in Domination Hierarchies IBlocking and
Triggering: Profuseness and Economy.
4. Generalization-Forms in Domination Hierarchies IIDo Something
Except When: Blocking, or The Theory of Profuseness.
5. The Construction of Grammar in Optimality Theory.
6. Syllable Structure Typology I: the CV Theory.
7. Constraint Interaction in Lardil Phonology.
8. Universal Syllable Theory II: Ordinal Construction of C/V and
Onset/Coda Licensing Asymmetry.
9. Inventory Theory and the Lexicon.
10. Foundational Issues and Theory-Comparisons.
Appendix.
A.1 The Cancellation and Cancellation/Domination Lemmas.
A.2 CV Syllable Structure.
A.3 Pâòini's Theorem on Constraint-ranking.
References.
Index
2. Optimality in Grammar: Core Syllabification in Imdlawn
Tashlhiyt Berber.
3. Generalization-Forms in Domination Hierarchies IBlocking and
Triggering: Profuseness and Economy.
4. Generalization-Forms in Domination Hierarchies IIDo Something
Except When: Blocking, or The Theory of Profuseness.
5. The Construction of Grammar in Optimality Theory.
6. Syllable Structure Typology I: the CV Theory.
7. Constraint Interaction in Lardil Phonology.
8. Universal Syllable Theory II: Ordinal Construction of C/V and
Onset/Coda Licensing Asymmetry.
9. Inventory Theory and the Lexicon.
10. Foundational Issues and Theory-Comparisons.
Appendix.
A.1 The Cancellation and Cancellation/Domination Lemmas.
A.2 CV Syllable Structure.
A.3 Pâòini's Theorem on Constraint-ranking.
References.
Index
"This is a very important book. Optimality Theory has
transformed the field of linguistics more than almost any other
development of the past half-century, and Prince and Smolensky
started it all." John J. McCarthy, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst
"OT does not need to permanently influence linguistic theory: it
has already done so. Between 1993 and 2004, Prince and
Smolensky's Optimality Theory was by far the most
widely circulated manuscript among phonologists. Fortunately, it is
now available for a larger audience in this text edition."
René Kager, Utrecht University
transformed the field of linguistics more than almost any other
development of the past half-century, and Prince and Smolensky
started it all." John J. McCarthy, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst
"OT does not need to permanently influence linguistic theory: it
has already done so. Between 1993 and 2004, Prince and
Smolensky's Optimality Theory was by far the most
widely circulated manuscript among phonologists. Fortunately, it is
now available for a larger audience in this text edition."
René Kager, Utrecht University
Alan Prince is Professor of Linguistics and a member of the
Cognitive Science Center at Rutgers University and is, along with
Paul Smolensky, one of the founders of Optimality Theory. He has
published in journals such as Linguistic Inquiry,
Science, Cognition, and Critical
Inquiry.
Paul Smolensky is Professor of Cognitive Science at Johns
Hopkins University. His publications include Learnability in
Optimality Theory (with Bruce Tesar, 2000) and Mathematical
Perspectives on Neural Networks (edited with Michael Mozer and
David Rumelhart, 1996).
Cognitive Science Center at Rutgers University and is, along with
Paul Smolensky, one of the founders of Optimality Theory. He has
published in journals such as Linguistic Inquiry,
Science, Cognition, and Critical
Inquiry.
Paul Smolensky is Professor of Cognitive Science at Johns
Hopkins University. His publications include Learnability in
Optimality Theory (with Bruce Tesar, 2000) and Mathematical
Perspectives on Neural Networks (edited with Michael Mozer and
David Rumelhart, 1996).
