Phonology
Masoud Moshayedi; Batool Ainezhad
Volume 15, Issue 1 , May 2023, , Pages 223-250
Abstract
In the framework of Optimality Theory (OT) proposed by Prince and Smolensky (2004) and by citing some evidence of Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) in Persian, this study aims to investigate conspiracy in this language. SSP is a universal tendency in the order of components within a syllable, whereby ...
Read More
In the framework of Optimality Theory (OT) proposed by Prince and Smolensky (2004) and by citing some evidence of Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) in Persian, this study aims to investigate conspiracy in this language. SSP is a universal tendency in the order of components within a syllable, whereby the sonority scale in the sequence of components in onset is ascending but in coda it is descending. In some cases, to achieve this principle, some different phonological processes conspire. In OT, conspiracy indicates the functional unity of several different phonological processes that pursue the same structural goal. In this descriptive-analytic study which is based on both library and field research, 204 CVCC words violating SSP have been studied. The analysis of the data firstly illustrates that derivative rules cannot show the functional unity of different phonological processes, then in the framework of OT and by depicting optimality tableaus, it is shown how some different phonological processes in Persian (such as deletion, insertion and metathesis), although leading to different outcomes, conspire to achieve one common goal i.e. SSP. Moreover, it is confirmed that SSP is not solely limited to syllables containing long vowels, but it applies to many syllables including short vowels as well.
fereshte mahdavi; Batool Ainezhad; Adel Rafiei
Volume 12, Issue 1 , January 2021, , Pages 111-136
Abstract
This paper investigates compensatory lengthening processes in Persian language based on Stratal Optimality Theory. Method of this survey is descriptive-analytic. Since Optimality Theory can’t analyze intermediate levels of morpho-phonemics processes, the presented study evaluates morpho-phonemics ...
Read More
This paper investigates compensatory lengthening processes in Persian language based on Stratal Optimality Theory. Method of this survey is descriptive-analytic. Since Optimality Theory can’t analyze intermediate levels of morpho-phonemics processes, the presented study evaluates morpho-phonemics analysis in Persian within the framework of Stratal Optimality Theory. Stratal Optimality Theory posits constraint evaluation at three distinct levels or strata: stem, word and phrase level. This multi-level variation of the original OT model may provide more economical and elegant explanations. In this survey, attraction, glottal consonant deletion and compensatory lengthening processes are analyzed within Stratal Optimality Theory and the order of constraints in each level are indicated. Further cross-linguistic and theoretical research into the Stratal OT model is needed to establish its universality and superiority to other models.
Batool Alinezhad; Rahman Veisi Hasar
Volume 9, Issue 16 , November 2017, , Pages 87-108
Abstract
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
The process of hypocoristic truncation refers to a process which includes the reduction of a proper name to a shortened form. In this process, the initial parts are mainly retained, and the final ones are truncated. These truncated names are mainly applied in intimate ...
Read More
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
The process of hypocoristic truncation refers to a process which includes the reduction of a proper name to a shortened form. In this process, the initial parts are mainly retained, and the final ones are truncated. These truncated names are mainly applied in intimate situations as a nickname or a term of endearment. From the optimality perspective, the hypocoristic formation is mainly based on the priority of markedness constraints over faithfulness constraints. In fact, the phonological identity of input forms and output ones (the constraint of faithfulness) is suppressed in favor of unmarked syllabic structures (markedness constraints). Although this phonological process has been under scrutiny in many languages, no research has been conducted in Kurdish language yet. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating some data in Kurdish language with reliance on the optimality theory in order to explain the phonological constraints responsible for making Kurdish hypocoristic names.
2- Methodology
The methodology of the present paper is based on the optimality theory (Prince & Smolensky, 1993). The fundamental concepts of this theory include markedness, faithfulness, constraint, and ranking. According to this theory, the linguistic structure is influenced by two fundamental competing forces: the markedness force acts in line with producing different types of unmarked structures; while, the faithfulness force functions in line with preserving lexical contrast (Kager, 1999; McCarty, 2008). In other words, faithfulness necessitates the congruency of output forms with the input ones, while markedness imposes a pressure to produce unmarked structures (Kager, 1999). Constraints have a particular ranking in each language which varies drastically from one language to another (McCarty, 2008). Violating each constraint is influenced by its particular ranking in the language (Kager, 1999). The higher the rank of a constraint is, the more its influence on phonetic environments is (Dekker, Vandekeeuwl, & Vande Wejer, 2000). Violating constraints with lower ranks along with observing and keeping constraints with high ranks result in optimal structures.
In the optimality phonology, the process of making hypocoristic names is also explained as the domination of markedness constraints over faithfulness ones (Hong, 2006). Markedness constraints exert a pressure to produce the optimal syllables in the hypocoristic names; nevertheless, Faithfulness constraints tend to make a congruency between the underlying input and the output of the hypocoristic form (Nelson, 1998). Due to the domination of markedness constraints, hypocoristic names prefer to delete a few consonants and vowels in favor of an optimal syllabic structure. Concerning this perspective, we try to clarify the dynamics of constraints related to hypocoristic forms in Kurdish language.
3- Discussion and Analysis
When hypocoristic process is applied to proper names, it deletes some clusters and syllables, and then it adds different endings to them according to the gender. As far as feminine names are considered, the first consonant, the second vowel, and the third consonant remain unchanged in the truncation process, but the rest elements are deleted. Finally, the vowel /e: /is added to the hypocoristic name which has now an optimal syllable structure of CV.CV. Regarding masculine names, the first consonant, the second vowel, and the third consonant are preserved in the truncation process, and the rest consonants and vowels are deleted. Finally, the suffix /-a/ is attached to the truncated forms:
1. amina•am [a] ra:bea•ra:b [a]
2. fathoła: făt[a] m(I)ka:il mIk[a]
The hypocoristic formation in Kurdish is highly dependent on the constraints related to the syllable structure. That is, these truncated names are characterized by optimal syllables. In the mentioned examples, the faithfulness constraints (PARSE, Fill) are violated because of the deletion of final consonants and vowels, and also due to attaching vowels /-a/, /-e/ to the end of names. However, these phonetic modifications are employed for the sake of forming an unmarked syllabic structure. As a way of illustration, the markedness constraints of onset, no-coda, no complex coda, and no complex nucleus are satisfied at the cost of violating the faithfulness constraints. Therefore, the ranking of constraints are as follows:
3. Onset, No-coda, *Complex coda, *Complex onset >> Parse, Fill
Additionally, the anchor constraint is always applied to the left side of the names. Regarding this constraint, the left side of the hypocoristic name should always be matched with the left side of the underlying name. Violating this constraint results in ungrammaticality. In addition, the last constraint, having priority over all the other constraints, is as follows:
4. The middle vowel must not be at the nucleus of the first syllable of the hypocoristic names: *mid vowel
The hierarchy of constraints related to the phonological structure of hypocoristic names can be illustrated as follows:
5. Onset, *coda,*mid-vowel, nuc,*complex coda, complex onset >> left-anchoring>>right-anchoring, parse, fill
4. Conclusion
By analyzing and investigating different cases of hypocoristic names in Kurdish from an optimality perspective, the following results were obtained: the hypocoristic names in this language include a highly optimal syllable structure. This optimal structure is made possible by the priority of markedness constraints over the faithfulness ones. The following ranking illustrates the hierarchy of constraints related to the hypocoristic names:
6. Onset, *coda,*mid-vowel, nuc,*complex coda, complex onset >> left-anchoring>>right-anchoring, pars, fill
.
Mohammad Amin Sorahi; Batoul Alinezhad
Volume 5, Issue 8 , April 2013, , Pages 103-130
Abstract
In linguistics morphology, clitics are considered as a set of special units which cannot be categorized under free or bound morphemes, and therefore, seriously question the traditional view of dividing morphemes into the two groups of free and bound morphemes. Clitics represent some characteristics of ...
Read More
In linguistics morphology, clitics are considered as a set of special units which cannot be categorized under free or bound morphemes, and therefore, seriously question the traditional view of dividing morphemes into the two groups of free and bound morphemes. Clitics represent some characteristics of words and simultaneously, possess some important properties of the bound morphemes as well. The study of clitics covers a wide domain including morphology and syntax. The present study aims to investigate the morphological structure of clitics in Persian based on a set of universal parameters. In doing so, the typological models of Aikhenvald (2003), Bickel and Nichols (2007), and Klavans (1985) were used. The results of the present study show that the proposed model of Aikhenvald was proved to be a scientific instrument for distinguishing Persian clitics from non-clitic units.
Atefesadat Mirsaeedi; Batool Alinezhad
Volume 4, Issue 6 , January 2013
Abstract
Giegerich (1999) refers to "lexical morphology and phonology" theory as an "affix-driven" model, because in this model the properties of a group of affixes specify the properties of each stratum. He also introduces another model to which he refers as a "base-driven" model in which each stratum is defined ...
Read More
Giegerich (1999) refers to "lexical morphology and phonology" theory as an "affix-driven" model, because in this model the properties of a group of affixes specify the properties of each stratum. He also introduces another model to which he refers as a "base-driven" model in which each stratum is defined based on the properties of the base. This synchronic study investigates affixation in Persian in order to see which model best works in analyzing this process of word-formation. The outcome clarifies that the "base-driven" model can account for affixation in Persian more successfully than the "affix-driven" model.
Elkhas Vaysi; Batool Alinezhad
Volume 3, Issue 5 , January 2012
Abstract
The present study provides an analysis of the correlation between acoustic properties, duration and pitch amplitude of speech associated with three basic emotions: anger, sadness and joy against neutrality as a reference, emotionally expressed by six Persian speakers. Rise/Fall Connection Model (Taylor, ...
Read More
The present study provides an analysis of the correlation between acoustic properties, duration and pitch amplitude of speech associated with three basic emotions: anger, sadness and joy against neutrality as a reference, emotionally expressed by six Persian speakers. Rise/Fall Connection Model (Taylor, 1995) is used to analyze acoustic parameters and measure how an utterance is modulated when Persian speaker's emotion deviates from neutral to certain emotional states. PRAAT (Boersmal and Weenink, 2006) speech processing software is used to calculate the pitch contour of each utterance. Statistical analysis is also used to indicate that strict acoustic correlation exists between sadness and neutrality on the one hand and between anger and joy on the other.
Batool Alinezhad; Atefe Sadat Mirsaeedi
Volume 2, Issue 3 , October 2010
Abstract
The present article explores and analyzes the acoustic aspect of vowel-to-consonant assimilation in Colloquial Persian. To do so, the acoustic variables of intensity, duration, F1, F2, and F3 of the two phonemes are investigated on which assimilation is applied. This research involves the analysis of ...
Read More
The present article explores and analyzes the acoustic aspect of vowel-to-consonant assimilation in Colloquial Persian. To do so, the acoustic variables of intensity, duration, F1, F2, and F3 of the two phonemes are investigated on which assimilation is applied. This research involves the analysis of acoustic properties of each phoneme in a non-assimilated phonetic context in initial, intervocalic, and final position and then these properties will be compared with acoustic properties of the same phonemes in an assimilated phonetic context. In this way, the acoustic variable of assimilated sound whose average value is between the acoustic properties of the two phonemes in assimilated and non-assimilated phonetic context would show the assimilation process. The results of this analysis show a kind of acoustic assimilation in the variables of intensity, duration, F1, F2, and F3 of the two phonemes in question.
