Optimality Theory: Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar / Edition 1

by Alan Prince, Paul Smolensky

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405119337
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	09/24/2004
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

Alan Prince is Professor of Linguistics and a member of the Cognitive Science Center at Rutgers University and is, along with Paul Smolensky, one of the founders of Optimality Theory. He has published in journals such as Linguistic Inquiry, Science, Cognition, and Critical Inquiry.

Paul Smolensky is Professor of Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University. His publications include Learnability in Optimality Theory (with Bruce Tesar, 2000) and Mathematical Perspectives on Neural Networks (edited with Michael Mozer and David Rumelhart, 1996).

Table of Contents

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

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“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

Editorial Reviews

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

From the Publisher