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Optimality Theory
Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar

Alan Prince (Author), Paul Smolensky (Author)

9781405119337, Wiley

Paperback / softback, published 2 August 2004

304 pages
24.6 x 17 x 2.2 cm, 0.544 kg

“This is a very important book. Optimality Theory has transformed the field of linguistics more than almost any other development of the past half-century, and Prince and Smolensky started it all.” John J. McCarthy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst


"OT does not need to permanently influence linguistic theory: it has already done so. Between 1993 and 2004, Prince and Smolensky’s Optimality Theory was by far the most widely circulated manuscript among phonologists. Fortunately, it is now available for a larger audience in this text edition." René Kager, Utrecht University

This book is the final version of the widely-circulated 1993 Technical Report that introduces a conception of grammar in which well-formedness is defined as optimality with respect to a ranked set of universal constraints.

  • Final version of the widely circulated 1993 Technical Report that was the seminal work in Optimality Theory, never before available in book format.
  • Serves as an excellent introduction to the principles and practice of Optimality Theory.
  • Offers proposals and analytic commentary that suggest many directions for further development for the professional.

Prefatory Note ix

Acknowledgments x

Part I Optimality and Constraint Interaction 11

Part II Syllable Theory 101

Part III Issues and Answers in Optimality Theory 203

Appendix 258

References 266

Index of Constraints 281

Index of Languages 283

General Index 284

Subject Areas: Language teaching & learning [other than ELT CJ]
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