Germanic obstruent lenition : some mutual implications of theoretical and historical phonology
This thesis seeks to reconcile aspects of philology with aspects of linguistics and to illustrate the advances in understanding that can be achieved in this way. The principal empirical focus is provided by four sets of 'classic' data from Germanic historical phonology and the theoretical background is provided by recent developments in non-linear models of phonology. The mutual implications of these are addressed to provide both a new understanding of the data and a coherent theoretical understanding of the types of phonological process that they exemplify. The data sets are chosen partly because of their iconic status in historical phonology and partly also because they all, at times, have been described as examples of a general process-type: 'lenition'. The background is provided by chapters one and two. Chapter one introduces the way in which the relationship between historical and synchronic phonology is understood in the thesis. Chapter two introduces the classic sets of data, namely: (i) the 'Germanic Consonant Shift', (ii) the 'High German Consonant Shift', (iii) the 'English Initial Fricative Voicing', (iv) the 'Inner-German Consonant Weakening'. Chapter three problematises these sets of data in two
Honeybone, Patrick George
Laryngeal phonology
Germanic obstruent lenition : some mutual implications of theoretical and historical phonology. This thesis seeks to reconcile aspects of philology with aspects of linguistics and to illustrate the advances in understanding that can be achieved in this way. The principal empirical focus is provided by four sets of 'classic' data from Germanic historical phonology and the theoretical background is provided by recent developments in non-linear models of phonology. The mutual implications of these are addressed to provide both a new understanding of the data and a coherent theoretical understanding of the types of phonological process that they exemplify. The data sets are chosen partly because of their iconic status in historical phonology and partly also because they all, at times, have been described as examples of a general process-type: 'lenition'. The background is provided by chapters one and two. Chapter one introduces the way in which the relationship between historical and synchronic phonology is understood in the thesis. Chapter two introduces the classic sets of data, namely: (i) the 'Germanic Consonant Shift', (ii) the 'High German Consonant Shift', (iii) the 'English Initial Fricative Voicing', (iv) the 'Inner-German Consonant Weakening'. Chapter three problematises these sets of data in two
germanic mutual implication theoretical historical phonology seek reconcile aspect philology aspect linguistics illustrate advance achieve way principal empirical focus provide set classic data germanic historical phonology theoretical_background provide recent_development non_linear model phonology mutual implication address provide_new data coherent theoretical type phonological_process exemplify data_set choose partly iconic status historical phonology partly also time describe examples general process type background provide one_introduce way relationship historical synchronic phonology understood thesis introduces classic set data namely germanic consonant shift high german consonant shift iii english initial fricative voicing inner german consonant problematises set data