ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

The main purpose in writing this article is to bring to light a universal constraint illuminating place assimilation generalizations. I begin with discussing some inherent problems of AGREE as a feasible universal constraint in practicing OT analysis. I claim that an unmarked sequence of place features be responsible for triggering place assimilation patterns across syllable boundary for both Korean and English. I dub the requirement UNIVERSAL PLACE SEQUENCE. It will be shown that the UPS is the only markedness constraint in the tableaux and the various place assimilation patterns are perfectly explained through the interactions between UPS and the other relevant faithfulness ones, which leads us to conclude that we are on the right track. This conclusion is strengthened by the observation that the same patterns of place assimilation are attested in syllable-final consonant clusters, but not in syllable-initial ones. I suggest that the explanation for the phenomena is well within the purview of the UPS. That constitutes an additional benefit of this analysis. Finally, I compare UPS with ONS, the latter of which can be considered one of the most fundamental universal constraints in classic OT. It will be discussed that the former is even more basic than the latter. I conclude that all relevant cases can be dealt with more adequately in a framework that has recourse to UPS.

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