Rule Generalization and Optionality in Language Change

Samuel J. Keyser, Wayne O'Neill

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9783110250541
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Linguistics
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

The architecture of the human language faculty has been one of the main foci of the linguistic research of the last half century. This branch of linguistics, broadly known as Generative Grammar, is concerned with the formulation of explanatory formal accounts of linguistic phenomena with the ulterior goal of gaining insight into the properties of the 'language organ'. The series comprises high quality monographs and collected volumes that address such issues. The topics in this series range from phonology to semantics, from syntax to information structure, from mathematical linguistics to studies of the lexicon.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Chapter 1. Introduction
• 1.1. Overview
• 1.2 Basic Phonological concepts
• 1.2.1. Metrical Structure
• 1.2.2. Autosegmental Phonology
• 1.2.3. Underspecification
• 1.2.4. The Cycle and Strict Cyclicity
• 1.2.5. Innovations in Phonological Theory
• Notes
• Chapter 2. From Old to Middle Kentish
• 2.1. Introduction
• 2.2. Kentish
• 2.2.1. Class I Weak Verbs in Old Kentish
• 2.2.2. Class I Weak Verbs in Middle Kentish
• 2.3. The Evolution of Old into Middle Kentish
• 2.3.1. Pre-Middle Kentish
• 2.3.2. Middle Kentish
• 2.3.3. Post-Middle Kentish
• 2.4. Historical account
• 2.4.1. Innovation and Reanalysis
• 2.4.2. Paradigmatic Consistency
• Notes
• Chapter 3. The Simplification of the Strong Nominal Paradigms
• 3.1. Introduction
• 3.2. The Data as represented in Old English Handbooks
• 3.3. The Data represented synchronically
• 3.4. The Relationship between Historical and Synchronic Paradigms
• 3.4.1. Reanalysis of Stems without Surface Allomorphy
• 3.4.2. Reanalysis of Stems with Surface Allomorphy
• 3.4.3. The Pairing Principle
• 3.5. Some Problematic Cases
• 3.5.1. Sunu
• 3.5.2. Dene
• 3.5.3. Here
• 3.5.4. Sinu
• Notes
• Chapter 4. The Evolution of the English Plural Rule
• 4.1. Introduction
• 4.2. The Modern English Plural Rule
• 4.3. The Ontogeny of the English Plural Rule
• 4.3.1. Origin of the Epenthesis Rule
• 4.3.2. Extension of the Epenthesis Rule
• 4.3.3. The History of Inorganic e- Epenthesis and Apocope
• 4.3.4. The Plural Rule in Early Modern English
• 4.3.5. Historical Commentary
• Systems
• Notes
• Chapter 5. AB
• 5.1. Introduction
• 5.2. The Inflectional Phonology of AB
• 5.2.1. Missing -e in AB: The Adjective
• 5.2.2. Missing -e in AB: The Noun
• 5.2.3. Missing -e in AB: The Regular Weak Verb
• 5.2.4. Missing -e in AB: Some Exceptions
• 5.2.5. Conclusion
• 5.3. Historical Aspects of the Inflectional Phonology of AB
• 5.3.1. The Origin of Weak Foot Drop in AB
• 5.3.2. Historical Commentary
• Historical Commentary
• Notes
• Chapter 6. Further Remarks on AB and Related Texts
• 6.1. /e/-Raising
• 6.1.1. Introduction
• 6.1.2. /e/-Raising Extinguished
• 6.1.3. Conclusion
• 6.1.4. Excursus on the Loss of/e/-Raising
• 6.2. Irregular Weak Verbs in AB
• 6.2.1. Introduction
• 6.2.2. A Synchronic Account
• 6.2.3. The Reanalysis of the Weak Verb Classes in AB
• 6.2.4. Conclusion
• Notes
• Chapter 7. Exceptions to High Vowel Deletion in the Vespasian Psalter and Their Explanation
• 7.1. High Vowel Deletion in the Vespasian Psalter
• 7.2. Excursus on Old English Diphtongization
• 7.2.1. The Underlying Diphthong Position
• 7.2.2. The Derived Diphthong Position
• 7.2.3. Types of Old English Diphthongization
• 7.2.4. Ordering of Breaking
• 7.2.5. Historical Evidence in Favor of the Monophthongal Position
• 7.2.6. Orthographic Evidence
• 7.3. Exceptions to the Application of High Vowel Deletion in the Vespasian Psalter
• 7.3.1. First Person Singular, Present Tense Indicative, Inflectional /u/
• 7.3.2. Substantival /u/: Nominative/Accusative Neuter Plurals and Nominative Feminine Singulars
• 7.4. Conclusion
• Notes
• Chapter 8. Historical Summary
• 8.1. Introduction
• 8.2. The Cases
• 8.2.1. Old to Middle Kentish
• 8.2.2. The Strong Nominal Paradigms in Old English
• 8.2.3. The English Plural Rule
• 8.2.4. Weak Foot Drop in AB
• 8.2.5. /e/-Raising and Irregular Verbs in AB and High Vowel Deletion in the Vespasian Psalter
• References