Aspects of the phonology and verb morphology of three Yemeni dialects
This thesis challenges a number of widely held assumptions concerning dialectology. Generative approaches to dialectology have assumed that related dialects share identical underlying representations and that dialect variation results from different rules or different ordering of the same rules. In the introduction, it is demonstrated that this position is untenable. Firstly, it is claimed that there can be no such notion as an objective dialect and that the term 'dialect' is most sensibly used to describe what native speakers perceive to be their language variety; and secondly, it is argued that different dialects may have independent underlying representations. In this light, the task of the dialectologist is seen to be examination of the different levels of the grammar in which dialect variation may and does take place. In terms of this overall perspective, the thesis adopts a model of underspecification first proposed by Pulleyblank (1986) and Archangeli (1984). While certain aspects of the phonology are viewed as language universal, this model does permit and exploit language specific variation, and thereby proves particularly apt for an approach to dialectology which rejects positing a single underlying
Watson, Janet Constance Elizabeth
Linguistics
Aspects of the phonology and verb morphology of three Yemeni dialects. This thesis challenges a number of widely held assumptions concerning dialectology. Generative approaches to dialectology have assumed that related dialects share identical underlying representations and that dialect variation results from different rules or different ordering of the same rules. In the introduction, it is demonstrated that this position is untenable. Firstly, it is claimed that there can be no such notion as an objective dialect and that the term 'dialect' is most sensibly used to describe what native speakers perceive to be their language variety; and secondly, it is argued that different dialects may have independent underlying representations. In this light, the task of the dialectologist is seen to be examination of the different levels of the grammar in which dialect variation may and does take place. In terms of this overall perspective, the thesis adopts a model of underspecification first proposed by Pulleyblank (1986) and Archangeli (1984). While certain aspects of the phonology are viewed as language universal, this model does permit and exploit language specific variation, and thereby proves particularly apt for an approach to dialectology which rejects positing a single underlying
aspects phonology verb morphology dialect challenge number widely_hold assumption_concern dialectology generative approach dialectology assume related dialect share identical underlying representation dialect variation different rule different order rule introduction demonstrate position untenable firstly claim notion objective dialect term dialect use_describe native_speaker perceive language_variety secondly_argue different dialect may independent underlying representation light task see examination different_level grammar dialect variation may_take place term overall perspective adopt model underspecification first propose certain_aspect phonology view language_universal model permit exploit language_specific variation thereby prove particularly apt dialectology reject posit single underlying