Modern Greek phonological variation : a government phonology approach
This thesis explores the phonological variation that may take place in Modern Greek when nasal and oral stops occur in strictly adjacent syllabic positions in a variety of syllabic structures. This analysis, based exclusively on more than 50 hours of tape-recorded speech, is formulated within the theoretical framework of Government Phonology. Its aim is to show that the phonological behaviour of Modern Greek nasal and oral stop sequences depends on the syllabic structure in which they occur. I first introduce the Modern Greek variation data and their phonological behaviour. I then review the best-known accounts of this phenomenon. Their shortcomings and weaknesses (mainly in terms of inadequacy of the theoretical frameworks employed) lead me to adopt the highly restrictive theory of Government Phonology. I accordingly present its main theoretical principles and stipulations. I subsequently discuss (i) the internal structure of nasal and oral stops and (ii) the lexical distinctiveness of their compositional elements. I show that lexically Modern Greek (i) possesses only neutral oral stops and (ii) always derives its voiced oral stops from the interactions that take place between strictly adjacent nasal and
Pagoni, Stamatia
Linguistics
Modern Greek phonological variation : a government phonology approach. This thesis explores the phonological variation that may take place in Modern Greek when nasal and oral stops occur in strictly adjacent syllabic positions in a variety of syllabic structures. This analysis, based exclusively on more than 50 hours of tape-recorded speech, is formulated within the theoretical framework of Government Phonology. Its aim is to show that the phonological behaviour of Modern Greek nasal and oral stop sequences depends on the syllabic structure in which they occur. I first introduce the Modern Greek variation data and their phonological behaviour. I then review the best-known accounts of this phenomenon. Their shortcomings and weaknesses (mainly in terms of inadequacy of the theoretical frameworks employed) lead me to adopt the highly restrictive theory of Government Phonology. I accordingly present its main theoretical principles and stipulations. I subsequently discuss (i) the internal structure of nasal and oral stops and (ii) the lexical distinctiveness of their compositional elements. I show that lexically Modern Greek (i) possesses only neutral oral stops and (ii) always derives its voiced oral stops from the interactions that take place between strictly adjacent nasal and
modern_greek phonological_variation government_phonology approach explores phonological_variation may_take place modern_greek nasal oral stop occur strictly adjacent syllabic position variety syllabic structure analysis base exclusively hours tape recorded speech formulate within_theoretical_framework government_phonology aim_show phonological behaviour modern_greek nasal oral stop sequence depend syllabic structure occur first introduce modern_greek variation data phonological behaviour review best known account phenomenon shortcoming weakness mainly term inadequacy theoretical_framework employ lead adopt highly restrictive theory government_phonology accordingly present main_theoretical principle stipulation subsequently discus internal_structure nasal oral stop lexical distinctiveness compositional element show lexically modern_greek possess neutral oral stop always derive voiced oral stop interaction take_place strictly adjacent nasal