Underspecification in Optimality Theory: Vowel Harmony in Classical Manchu

Underspecification in Optimality Theory: Vowel Harmony in Classical Manchu

Hong, Sung-Hoon. 2002. Underspecification in Optimality Theory: Vowel Harmony in Classical Manchu. Studies in Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology 8.2. 323-350. This paper addresses some important issues raised by A TR harmony in Classical Manchu, formerly treated as front/back harmony. Here, the front high vowel [i] is totally inactive with respect to the harmony: it is transparent to the harmony, and further, it does not initiate the harmony. I will show that these properties of [i] will be properly explained if we allow underspecified [i] as an option for inputs and output candidate forms. Allowing underspecified [i] in fact accords more with basic notions of Optimality Theory (OT) such as Freedom of Analysis and Richness of the Base than the analyses that do not tolerate this possibility. I will further show that once we allow underspecified [i], its selection in output candidate forms or in input forms is totally governed by OT principles such as constraint interaction and Lexicon Optimization, respectively. (Hansung University)