#optimality theory

[archipithecus]

i think an important part of studying linguistics is making arcane sigils and kind of being a pervert about it

[tower-of-hana]

linguist 1: We need names for constraints that restrict codas and onsets

linguist 2: What about NoCoda and NoOnset?

linguist 1: Okay now we need constraints that restrict complex codas and onsets.

linguist 2: What about NoComplexOnset, NoComplexCoda, and NoComplex for when you need both?

linguist 1: Sure we're almost done, we just need constraints that restrict epenthesis and deletion.

linguist 2: What about Max and Dep?

linguist 1: What the fuck

linguist 2: we should use emojis to represent things in our very serious theory

[linguisticillustrations]

Optimality Theory diagram (tableau) for foot/syllable metathesis in Naijá (also known as Nigerian Pidgin) used for the "unconventional negative" (UNC.NEG) form of nouns.

Examples of this and related processes (taken from an author's post on Mastodon):

Tone metathesis in documented varieties of Naijá [fádà] “father” [fàdá] “rev. father” [màmá] “mother” [mámà] “trendy old lady” (other meanings are possible)

Truncation in the Wafi variety [bâ:g] “bag” [â:g] “inferior bag” [stô:v] “stove” [tô:v] “cheap stove”

Syllable metathesis in the Wafi variety [pòló] “polo shirt” [lòpó] “inferior polo shirt” [àʃáwó] “sex worker” [àwóʃá] “cheap sex worker” [láptɔ̂:p] “laptop” [tóplâ:p] “cheap laptop”

From the article:

Akinbo, Samuel Kayode and Ekiugbo, Philip Oghenesuowho. 2024. "Iconicity as the motivation for morphophonological metathesis and truncation in Nigerian Pidgin" Open Linguistics 10(1): https://doi.org/10.1515/opli-2024-0013

[prototumblinguist]

OT? with all those fatal violations? you might as well call it OSHA!

[allthingslinguistic]

3 Links for Second Year Phonology Video Lectures

YouTube videos from TrevTutor, The Virtual Linguistics Campus, and Nicholas Rolle

Today’s links are for second year phonology, a frequently-requested topic: 

1. Phonology with TrevTutor

YouTube video series

16 videos ranging from 6 to 15 minutes. Colorful handwritten slides with voiceover. Content includes basic terminology, detailed discussion of particular features, SPE rules, sonority, and feature geometry. Some videos walk through the process of phonological analysis. Closed captions are auto-generated and struggle sometimes with technical terms, though often the technical terms are displayed on the slides.

2. Phonology Micro-Lectures with The Virtual Linguistics Campus

YouTube video series

33 videos ranging from 1 to 2 minutes. Playlist order appears to be arbitrary. PowerPoint-style slides with voiceover. Some videos present fundamental concepts and phonological processes, while others focus on social/historical variation in phonology. Closed captions are auto-generated and struggle sometimes with technical terms.

3. Introduction to Optimality Theory with Nicholas Rolle

YouTube lecture

51 minute video-recorded lecture from UC Berkeley phonology course. Provides an introduction to the basic concepts and mechanics of Optimality Theory. Presentation is directed toward students in the classroom, though easy to follow as a viewer. While students’ questions can be difficult to hear, the recording is generally high-quality. Closed captions are auto-generated and struggle sometimes with technical terms.

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[afterperfect]

My kingdom for a study in this one area I need to read up on, that doesn’t start from an OT framework.

[spec-vp]

so, the string "zohran". when we say it, we have three options:

erase the h (boring)

pronounce /h/ syllable-finally

pronounce /hran/ as one syllable

if you're dead set on pronouncing his name somewhat accurately, you have to choose between 2 and 3, neither of which feel very good under english phonotactics. but i find that i do #3, which would indicate (at least in my case) that the constraints against syllable-initial /hr/ are less highly ranked than those against syllable-final /h/

edit: wikipedia lists the english pronunciation as [zəˈ(h)ɹɑːn], so it's not just me

[pomklementieffs]

linguists of tumblr do u ever turn a bias sorter into an OT ranker