Tier geometry : an explanatory model of vowel structure
A number of constraint-based models of phonology have established a shift in emphasis away from rules and derivations towards a more representationally-oriented view of description. This enrichment of representational structure has led to a significant reduction in the generative power of the phonological component. This thesis proposes that the advantages of the Element Theory (Kaye et al. 1985, Harris & Lindsey 1995) approach to melodic structure - which maintains this trend towards greater generative restrictiveness - may be enhanced by the introduction of an intra-segmental geometry of melodic tiers. A hierarchy of element tiers for vowels is constructed according to the same principles of licensing that control prosodic structure, allowing a unified representational hierarchy that highlights the interrelatedness between melody and prosody. The melodic geometry of a language is built around a limited set of parametric choices that control tier sharing/division, the structural dependency relations holding between elements, and the possibilities for licensing a complement tier (which replaces the notion of melodic headship). The sub-segmental tier structure of a language provides a melodic template, latently
Backley, Phillip
Linguistics
Tier geometry : an explanatory model of vowel structure. A number of constraint-based models of phonology have established a shift in emphasis away from rules and derivations towards a more representationally-oriented view of description. This enrichment of representational structure has led to a significant reduction in the generative power of the phonological component. This thesis proposes that the advantages of the Element Theory (Kaye et al. 1985, Harris & Lindsey 1995) approach to melodic structure - which maintains this trend towards greater generative restrictiveness - may be enhanced by the introduction of an intra-segmental geometry of melodic tiers. A hierarchy of element tiers for vowels is constructed according to the same principles of licensing that control prosodic structure, allowing a unified representational hierarchy that highlights the interrelatedness between melody and prosody. The melodic geometry of a language is built around a limited set of parametric choices that control tier sharing/division, the structural dependency relations holding between elements, and the possibilities for licensing a complement tier (which replaces the notion of melodic headship). The sub-segmental tier structure of a language provides a melodic template, latently
tier geometry explanatory_model vowel structure number constraint_based model phonology establish shift emphasis away rule derivation towards oriented view description enrichment representational structure lead significant reduction generative power phonological component proposes advantage element theory harris melodic structure maintains trend_towards great generative may enhance introduction intra segmental geometry melodic tier hierarchy element tier vowel construct accord principle license control prosodic_structure allow unified representational hierarchy highlight prosody melodic geometry language build around limited set parametric choice control tier sharing division structural dependency_relation hold element possibility license complement tier notion melodic headship sub segmental tier structure language provide melodic template