This study takes another look at a moot problem in the analysis of Korean sub-compounds, where the second component nouns are y-initial nouns, with n/Ø alternation between two nouns. There have been two opposing approaches to this alternation: one for an /n/-insertion solution and the other for an /n/-deletion solution. However, each approach has left behind some data unaccounted for. Drawing on what is observed in Han (1994), we present another analysis to this n/⌽ alternation in a constraint-based framework of Optimality Theory. Our suggestion is that an underlying /n/ should be posited for some nouns, but not for all nouns uniformly. We argue that regardless of native Korean or Sino-Korean combinations, /n/-Insertion applies to y-initial components, only when the first components are prosodic stems. Some exceptions result from the weakening of a stem boundary, which is related with variables such as the number of syllables and the combining force or semantic relationship between the two components, and frequency effects of sub-compounds. The boundary status of the first components is shown to play a pivotal role in deciding that of the following components, backed by the condition that sisters in prosodic structure be of the same type.
1. Introduction
2. Review to Analysis with Underlying /n/
3. Review to Analysis with /n/-Insertion
4. Our Analysis
5. Summary and Conclusion
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