earticle

영어

The purpose of this study is to analyze neutralization in English within the framework of Optimality Theory (henceforth OT; cf. Prince and Smolensky 1993, McCarthy and Prince 1995), thereby, showing that the analysis in constraint-based theory provides better explanation than rule-based theory. Specifically, this study attempts to show that the major features of neutralization are well represented in the nature and ranking of the constraints adopted for analysis. As the features of neutralization, this paper provides lenition, unidirectional effect of stress, and domination of markedness constraints over faithfulness constraints. That is, neutralization is the lenition process that occurs in weak phonological positions. Furthermore, the position of stress is crucial in the application of the neutralization rules, but neutralization itself does not affect the placement of stress. This unidirectional relationship between stress and segment is another feature of neutralization. Finally, the domination of markedness constraints over faithfulness constraints is noted as a feature of neutralization. In this study, we did OT-based analysis of flapping and vowel reduction, the two typical neutralization processes in English. The analyses show that the features of neutralization are well represented by the nature and ranking of the constraints.