In:Romance Languages and Linguistic Theory 2006: Selected papers from ‘Going Romance’, Amsterdam, 7–9 December 2006
Edited by Danièle Torck and W. Leo Wetzels
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 303] 2009
► pp. 111–126
Romance lenition
Towards a formal account of a contrast maintaining phonetically motivated sound change
Published online: 12 November 2009
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.303.07jac
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.303.07jac
This paper proposes an OT account of diachronic and synchronic Romance lenition
based on the theory of Comparative Markedness. The analysis, contrary to previous
analyses, allows for a straightforward description of synchronic allophonic lenition
processes where voicing and spirantization take place simultaneously without loss of
contrast. The comparative markedness analysis of lenition not only allows for a
parallel OT description of counter-feeding opacity in synchronic Gran Canarian,
Corsican and Sardinian lenition, but moreover makes understandable why sound
change should start out in a counter-feeding fashion.
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