The Phonology of Consonants

Description

The most comprehensive work on dissimilation (the avoidance or repair of combinations of similar sounds) to date, this book proposes a novel analysis that handles dissimilation as the avoidance of surface correspondence relationships. It draws on recent work in Agreement By Correspondence to show that dissimilation is a natural outcome predicted by the same theory of Surface Correspondence. The theory is developed in more detail than ever before, and its predictions are tested and evaluated through ten in-depth analyses of diverse languages from Quechua to Kinyarwanda, together with a typological survey of over 150 dissimilation patterns drawn from over 130 languages, from Acehnese to Zulu. The book redefines the core of Surface Correspondence theory to a level of formal specificity and theoretical precision surpassing previous work. The book's findings are made more accessible by numerous examples featuring data from 47 languages from around the world.

Wm G. Bennett is a senior lecturer in the Department of English Language and Linguistics at Rhodes University, South Africa.

'Monumental in scope and empirical coverage, and meticulously argued, this work will serve as a point of reference for all future research on consonant dissimilation and co-occurrence restrictions in general.' Gunnar Olafur Hansson, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 'Based on a deep theoretical insight and developed with wide empirical sweep and focused analysis, Bennett's work thoroughly renovates our understanding of both dissimilation and assimilation, the core of segmental phonology.' Alan Prince, Rutgers University, New Jersey 'Aimed at those with a fluency in OT and an interest in assimilatory and dissimilatory processes, The Phonology of Consonants: Harmony, Dissimilation, and Correspondence is a comprehensive and game-changing addition for phonologists and advanced students working within the OT framework.' Amanda Dalola, The Linguist List