Lecture 7 Syllable Weight

English Word Stress The account of English stress presented so far only works for a subset of nouns/suffixed adjectives and verbs/unsuffixed adjectives. The account of English stress presented so far only works for a subset of nouns/suffixed adjectives and verbs/unsuffixed adjectives. This should not come as a surprise as the English stress system is renowned for its complexity. This should not come as a surprise as the English stress system is renowned for its complexity. We will continue investigation, focusing on the effect of syllable structure on stress assignment. We will continue investigation, focusing on the effect of syllable structure on stress assignment.

Basic Algorithm English stress algorithm: English stress algorithm: a.Project syllable heads onto the baseline. b.Mark the right-most baseline asterisk extrametrical (in nouns and suffixed adjectives only). c.Construct line 1 by building left-headed feet iteratively from right to left. d.Construct line 2 by applying End Stress [Right] on line 1.

Parameter Settings The algorithm suggests the following parameter settings, crucially assuming that lexical forms are bare of metrical structure: The algorithm suggests the following parameter settings, crucially assuming that lexical forms are bare of metrical structure: English stress parameter settings: English stress parameter settings: - Extrametricality:Yes [right]Nouns - Foot head:Left - Foot construction:Right-to-left - End stress:RightOnto line 1

Different Pattern Consider the forms: Consider the forms: nounsverbs/unsuffixed adjectives agénda(to) recomménd incéntive(to) incréase Octóberinténse Stress falls one syllable further to the right than is predicted by the algorithm. Stress falls one syllable further to the right than is predicted by the algorithm. Why? Why?

Applying the Algorithm Incorporating Line Conflation, that suppresses all feet but the one bearing main stress, the derivations of stress assignment will be as follows: Incorporating Line Conflation, that suppresses all feet but the one bearing main stress, the derivations of stress assignment will be as follows: a g e n d aInputr e c o m mend

Projection * * * * * * a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d

Extrametricality * * * * * a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d

Footing * ** * ** (* *) (*) (* *) a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d

End Stress ** ** * ** * ** (* *) (*) (* *) a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d

Conflation ** ** (* *) * (* *) a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d a g e n d ar e c o m m e n d

Outputs *á g e n d a*r e c ó m m e n d

Solutions A noun like agenda can be treated as an exception to the extrametricality clause. A noun like agenda can be treated as an exception to the extrametricality clause. -But, extrametricality does not act upon verbs like recommend. These forms could be assigned right-headed feet, instead of the normal left-headed feet. These forms could be assigned right-headed feet, instead of the normal left-headed feet. -However, metrical structure is uniform across the board in each language.

Syllable Structure Syllable structure plays a vital part in the construction of the metrical grid. Syllable structure plays a vital part in the construction of the metrical grid. a.gén.dain.cr[í:]se in.cén.tivere.co.mménd Oc.t[  ].berin.tén.se The stressed syllables are HEAVY. The stressed syllables are HEAVY. -long nucleus OR -coda

Rime Structure and Stress in English Rime StructureStress Nouns Penultimate lightAntepenultimate Penultimate heavyPenultimate Verbs Final lightPenultimate Final heavyFinal

ACCENT The connection between the location of stress and the structure of the rime should be encoded in the grid. The connection between the location of stress and the structure of the rime should be encoded in the grid. Therefore, the baseline asterisks of heavy rimes are projected onto line 1. Therefore, the baseline asterisks of heavy rimes are projected onto line 1. The word ACCENT is commonly used to refer to this projection: The word ACCENT is commonly used to refer to this projection: * * * * * * * * * * a. g e n. d a  a. g e n. d a  a. g e n. d a Input Baseline and Accent Extrametricality Extrametricality

Faithfulness Condition Heads imply constituents and constituents imply heads: Heads imply constituents and constituents imply heads: Faithfulness Condition Each grid constituent has a head (plotted in the line immediately above), and each head has a domain (delimited in the line immediately below). *Stress line 1 *Stress line 1 * * * (*) Baseline a. g e n. d a  a. g e n. d a Faithfulness

Syllable Weight Recognizing syllable weight will also account for the final stress in verbs and unsuffixed adjectives: Recognizing syllable weight will also account for the final stress in verbs and unsuffixed adjectives: *Stress line 2 *Stress line 2 * * *Stress line 1 * * *Stress line 1 (* *) (*) * * (*)Baseline re.co.mmend  re.co.mmend End Stress Conflation

Algorithm - update English stress algorithm: English stress algorithm: a.Project syllable heads onto the baseline. b.Mark the right-most baseline asterisk extrametrical (in nouns and suffixed adjectives only). c.Accent all heavy syllables. d.Construct line 1 by building left-headed feet iteratively from right to left. e.Construct line 2 by applying End Stress [Right] on line 1. f.Delete line 1.

Unstressed Final Heavies (Verbs) Consider the following verbs and unsuffixed adjectives: Consider the following verbs and unsuffixed adjectives: de.vé.lopim.plí.cit i.má.gineen.dé.mic - The final syllables above meet our definition of heavy syllables. - Final heavy syllables attract stress in verbs and unsuffixed adjectives. Why is the stress penultimate? Why is the stress penultimate?

Word-Final Consonants We shall assume that the final consonant in English words lies outside the rime. We shall assume that the final consonant in English words lies outside the rime. Therefore: Therefore: --- CV-C#--- CVC-C# (light) (heavy) (light) (heavy)

Word-Final Consonants * * * * * (* *) i.ma.gi-ne  NA  i.ma.gi-ne Accent Footing etc. Accent Footing etc. * * * * * * * * * * * * (*) * * * * * * * * (*) re.co.mmen-d  re.co.mmen-d  re.co.mmen-d AccentFooting etc.

Stressed Final Heavies (Nouns) Consider the following nouns: Consider the following nouns: chimpanzéeenginéer referéeseventéen magazínemillionáire These nouns are stressed on the final syllable. These nouns are stressed on the final syllable. That syllable contains a long vowel. That syllable contains a long vowel. The assumption is: The assumption is: -In English, extrametricality is blocked by long vowels but not by coda consonants.

Algorithm - update English stress algorithm: English stress algorithm: a.Project syllable heads onto the baseline. b.Mark the right-most baseline asterisk extrametrical (in nouns and suffixed adjectives only) if it dominates a syllable with a simple nucleus. c.Accent all heavy syllables. d.Construct line 1 by building left-headed feet iteratively from right to left. e.Construct line 2 by applying End Stress [Right] on line 1. f.Delete line 1.

Unstressed Final Long Vowels (Nouns) Consider the following nouns: Consider the following nouns: búffal[  ] mosquít[  ] tomát[  ] Málib[u:] These are nouns with long open final syllables which do not exhibit the expected final stress. These are nouns with long open final syllables which do not exhibit the expected final stress. The assumption is: The assumption is: -The vowels are underlyingly short, so they induce extrametricality. After stress has been assigned, they will undergo lengthening.

Warning English stress assignment is by no means a simple matter.

Formalizing Syllable Weight Onsets do not contribute to syllable weight. Onsets do not contribute to syllable weight. Only the rime is relevant to the determination of syllable weight. Only the rime is relevant to the determination of syllable weight. This, however, does not follow from our present formalism. This, however, does not follow from our present formalism. The same number of skeletal slots (3) are associated to the syllables: CCV and CVC. The same number of skeletal slots (3) are associated to the syllables: CCV and CVC.

Formalizing Syllable Weight Syllable weight is a function of the number of skeletal slots in the rime: Syllable weight is a function of the number of skeletal slots in the rime:  OROR NNCd XXXXXX CCVCVC 1X = Light  2X = Heavy 

Moras A mora (  ) is a unit of syllable weight. A mora (  ) is a unit of syllable weight. It is intermediate between the segment and the syllable. It is intermediate between the segment and the syllable. A light syllable is mono-moraic (  ), and heavy syllable is bi-moraic (  ). A light syllable is mono-moraic (  ), and heavy syllable is bi-moraic (  ). The replacement of skeletal slots with moras will render the intermediate R and N nods superfluous: The replacement of skeletal slots with moras will render the intermediate R and N nods superfluous: LightHeavy   C CVCVC

Mora Projection What is the source of the moras themselves? What is the source of the moras themselves? -lexical projection from vowels Underlying -structural projection from (coda) consonants WEIGHT BY POSITION       VC V CC V  VC V CC V WBP WBP

Summing up Syllables with branching rimes are defined as heavy. Syllables with branching rimes are defined as heavy. Heavy syllables attract stress regardless of their position in the word. Heavy syllables attract stress regardless of their position in the word. To formalize this, the asterisk dominating the heavy syllable is projected onto line 1, a process known as accenting. To formalize this, the asterisk dominating the heavy syllable is projected onto line 1, a process known as accenting. This vital step precedes foot construction. This vital step precedes foot construction. Accented syllables will of necessity head their feet. Accented syllables will of necessity head their feet. This follows from the Faithfulness Condition, which entails that each head corresponds to a constituent and each constituent to some head. This follows from the Faithfulness Condition, which entails that each head corresponds to a constituent and each constituent to some head. Final consonant extrasyllabicity accounts for the superficially final branching rimes in verbs and unsuffixed adjectives. Final consonant extrasyllabicity accounts for the superficially final branching rimes in verbs and unsuffixed adjectives. Blocking extrametricality by underlying vowel length accounts for nouns with final stress. Blocking extrametricality by underlying vowel length accounts for nouns with final stress. The onset plays no part in the calculation of syllable weight. The onset plays no part in the calculation of syllable weight. This leads to an alternative model of syllables, with rime segments attached to moras. This leads to an alternative model of syllables, with rime segments attached to moras.

Next Week Chapters 15 and 16 Assignment: Key Questions (pages 441 and 494)