Optimality Theory

First ever textbook on Optimality Theory, a major new area of linguistic theory.

Rene Kager (Author)

9780521589802, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 June 1999

466 pages, 17 exercises
22.8 x 15.4 x 3 cm, 0.766 kg

"Kager's book provides a comprehensive overview of OT theory and practice....It is noteworthy for its attention to detail and its analysis of arguments." Lanuage in Society

This is an introduction to Optimality Theory, whose central idea is that surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing constraints. A surface form is 'optimal' if it incurs the least serious violations of a set of constraints, taking into account their hierarchical ranking. Languages differ in the ranking of constraints; and any violations must be minimal. The book does not limit its empirical scope to phonological phenomena, but also contains chapters on the learnability of OT grammars; OT's implications for syntax; and other issues such as opacity. It also reviews in detail a selection of the considerable research output which OT has already produced. Exercises accompany chapters 1-7, and there are sections on further reading. Optimality Theory will be welcomed by any linguist with a basic knowledge of derivational Generative Phonology.

Preface
1. Conflicts in grammars
2. The typology of structural changes
3. Syllable structure and economy
4. Metrical structure and parallelism
5. Correspondence in reduplication
6. Output-to-output correspondence
7. Learning OT grammars
8. Extensions to syntax
9. Residual issues
References
Index of languages
Index of subjects
Index of constraints.

Subject Areas: Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK]