A comprehensive model of phonological variation: grammatical and non-grammatical factors in variable nasal place assimilation*. Issue 2 (4th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coetzee, Andries W.
• Is Part Of: Phonology. Volume 33:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2016-10-04
• Subjects: Grammar, Comparative and general -- Phonology -- Periodicals; 414.05
• DOI: 10.1017/S0952675716000117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-6757

Abstract

Abstract : The past two decades have seen the development of several constraint-based models of phonological grammar that can handle variable phenomena. Most of these models, however, are purely grammatical, and do not allow for the contribution of non-grammatical factors towards determining the frequency structure of variation. This paper reviews different approaches to phonological variation, focusing on how grammatical and non-grammatical factors co-determine patterns of variation. Based on this review, a model is developed that incorporates influences from both grammatical and non-grammatical factors. The proposed model is grammar-dominant, in the sense that grammar defines the space of possible variation while non-grammatical factors only contribute towards the frequency with which the grammar determined forms are observed. Following Coetzee & Kawahara (2013), the model is developed in a version of noisy Harmonic Grammar that allows non-grammatical factors to scale the weights of faithfulness constraints up or down.