An Optimality-driven Approach to Derivational Choices in English

This paper aims to provide an optimality-driven account for long-discussed derivational options in English sentences. Another purpose of this study is to examine what kinds of linguistic constraints are involved in accounting for derivational options and furthermore demonstrate that only limited number of well-known universal constraints such as Information constraint, Adjacency Constraint, Stay and Head movement can explain somewhat complicated derivational options with slight change of hierarchy among the constraints. In addition, I illustrate how the best derivational option can be selected by way of optimality-theoretic evaluation process. Finally I attempt to suggest a pedagogical method which can provide an answer to an optionality issues in English.