Optimality Theory
Optimality Theory
Linguistic theory in the 1990s. . . and beyond!
Optimality Theory

Universal Grammar (UG)
 Innate ability to learn language
 If there are common patterns in language they
must be part of UG.
 We are born with them
Optimality Theory

Universal Grammar (UG)
 Innate ability to learn language
 If there are common patterns in language they
must be part of UG
 We are born with them
 If there are uncommon patterns they must not
be part of UG
Optimality Theory
Variation
 Languages differ in how much they vary from
common UG patterns
Markedness
 Common patterns are unmarked
 Uncommon patterns are marked
 Unmarked patterns are though to show us
what UG is like

Syllables

Case study: syllable structure
 Languages vary in their syllable structure
Syllables
Case study: syllable structure
 So, CV, CVC, CCV, are patterns in languages
What patterns are not found?
 a language where all words are made up of
consonant clusters followed by vowels
 a language where all words begin with
consonant clusters

Syllables
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes
1.Syllables begin with a C (ONSET)
1.have, found follow ONSET
2.all, orb violate ONSET
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes
1.Syllables begin with a C (ONSET)
1.have, found follow ONSET
2.all, orb violate ONSET
2.Syllables have one V (PEAK)
1.two, or follow PEAK
2.tklt (in Berber) violate PEAK
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes
1.Syllables begin with a C (ONSET)
1.have, found follow ONSET
2.all, orb violate ONSET
2.Syllables have one V (PEAK)
1.two, or follow PEAK
2.purr violates PEAK
3.Syllables end in a V (NO CODA)
1.throw, glee follow NO CODA
2.thrown, light violate NO CODA
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes
1.Syllables have one C the edge (*COMPLEX)
(asterisk mean no, or doesn't have)
1.car, leak follow *COMPLEX
2.spill, ask violate *COMPLEX
Properties of Syllables
These properties are tendencies, not absolutes
1.Syllables have one C the edge (*COMPLEX)
(asterisk mean no, or doesn't have)
1.car, leak follow *COMPLEX
2.spill, ask violate *COMPLEX
Constraints

In Optimality Theory (OT) constraints:

are part of Universal Grammar

can be violated

languages differ according to what constraints are
violated, and the rank among the constraints
Constraints

In Yawelmani CV and CVC are OK

CVCC and CC are not found
Constraints

In Yawelmani CV and CVC are OK

CVCC and CC are not found

Violations of NO CODA are OK, but not
violations of *COMPLEX and PEAK
Constraints

In English violations of all syllable constraints is
permitted
Constraints

In generative phonology rules convert an
underlying representation to a surface
representation with rules
Constraints


In generative phonology rules convert an
underlying representation to a surface
representation with rules
Rules tell you what to do to the UR
Constraints




In generative phonology rules convert an
underlying representation to a surface
representation with rules
Rules tell you what to do to the UR
In OT underlying representations are called
inputs
Constraints tell you what you can't do to convert
an input to an output (surface form)
Faithfulness Constraints

FAITHFULNESS says input and output must be
identical


FAITHV says input and output vowels must be
same
FAITHC says input and output consonants must be
the same
Constraint Violation



It's OK to violate a constraint if violating it
satifies a higher ranking constraint
Consider a language where PEAK, ONSET,
*COMPLEX, FAITHC and FAITHV are on on
the same ranking level, and they all outrank
NOCODA
To make a good syllable you could add a V or
delete a C
Constraint Violation

Dotted lines show constraints at same level

Solid lines show different level

Pointing finger shows optimal candidate

* Shows violation

*! shows fatal violation

Shaded box shows irrelevant
Steps in OT



Take the input and generate (GEN) an infinite
number of possible outputs (add elements,
delete them, modify them, anything goes)
Evaluate (EVAL) them to see how well they
follow or violate the constraints and rankings of
the language.
The output is the candidate that is optimal
because it violates the fewest or lowest ranked
constraints
OT's approach to linguistics


Language variation exists because constraints
are ranked differently in different dialects
Language patterns arise because of language
specific constraint rankings
What happens in Yawelmani when
morphology puts three Cs together?

FAITHV is lowest ranked so epenthesis is
allowed
What happens in Spanish when
morphology puts three Cs together?

FAITHC is lowest ranked so deletion is allowed
What happens in English when
morphology puts three Cs together?

*COMPLEX is lowest ranked so CCC is allowed
What happens in Berber when
morphology puts three Cs together?

*PEAK is lowest ranked so /tf/ as a syllable is
allowed

The difference between Yawelmani, Spanish,
English, and Berber is the constraint ranking