The Computation of Prosody

William James Idsardi

This thesis presents a new theory of metrical representations and computation. This theory emphasizes that the metrical grid is a separate module of the phonology, devoted to the calculation of partitionings of phonological elements. The metrical grid consists of parallel tiers composed of three kinds of elements: grid marks and left and right boundaries. A single boundary serves to define a metrical constituent: a left boundary creates a grouping of the elements to its right, a right boundary creates a grouping of the elements to its left.

The calculation of the metrical grid is accomplished through the use of both rules and constraints. This division of labor accounts for observed properties of stress systems in a succinct manner. Metrical rules apply successively in a derivation, thus modelling the functional character of metrical structure assignment. The constraints prevent the application of metrical rules that would generate universal or language-particular disfavored configurations.

The interface to the metrical grid module is controlled by two parameters of projection, which provide the initial grid marks and boundaries. Further parameterized rules of Edge marking, Iterative constituent construction and Headedness complete the construction of the grid.

This theory allows the derivation of Extrametricality effects through the interaction between Edge marking and Iterative constituent construction. Constraints against particular configurations yield both clash effects and a ternary parsing ability.

Further, the Edge marking parameter provides the requisite formal power to deal with stress introduced by specific morphemes in such languages as Turkish, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Cayuvava, Shuswap (Salish) and Moses-Columbian (Salish).

Thesis Committee:

Table of Contents

  1. Basic mechanisms for constructing metrical grids 7
    1. Introduction 7
    2. Koya 9
    3. Warao and Weri 17
    4. Tubatulabal 22
    5. Macedonian I 23
    6. Selkup and Khalkha Mongolian 25
    7. Turkish 29
    8. Polish 34
    9. Macedonian II 38
  2. Constraints on the construction of metrical grids 46
    1. Clash avoidance 46
      1. Malayalam and Wolof 47
      2. Garawa 52
    2. Edge avoidance 55
      1. Latin 55
      2. Western Aranda 58
    3. Ternary constituents 59
      1. Cayuvava 62
      2. Chugach Alutiiq 67
    4. Parenthesis deletion 71
      1. Diyari 72
      2. Winnebago 75
  3. 3. Conflation and multiple metrical parameters 83
    1. Introduction 83
    2. Bidirectional stress rules 83
      1. Cahuilla 83
    3. Conflation and circumscription 86
      1. Lenakel 95
      2. Auca 100
      3. Klamath 105
      4. Seneca 108
  4. Case studies in lexical stress 112
    1. Introduction 112
    2. Russian 112
      1. Noun inflections 114
      2. Jers and stress shift 118
      3. Stress retraction 122
      4. Verbal inflections 126
      5. Stress and derivational morphology 131
    3. Stress in Shuswap and Moses-Columbian 138
    4. Shuswap glottalized sonorants 148
  5. Rules and representations in metrical theory 157
    1. Introduction 157
    2. Representations of bracketed grids 157
      1. Boundary representations 158
        1. Left and right parentheses 159
        2. Foot separators 162
      2. Grid marks as feature matrices 163
      3. Autosegmental representations 164
        1. Autosegmental edges 165
        2. Autosegmental feet 167
      4. Summary 169
    3. Constraints versus rules 171
      1. Iterative parenthesis insertion 171
      2. Constraint-only metrical theory 176
  6. Conclusion 191
  7. References 195