Abstract Sanskrit /n/-retroflexion is one of the most complex segmental processes in phonology. While it is still star-free, it does not fit in any of the subregular classes that are commonly entertained in the literature. We show that when construed as a phonotactic dependency, the process fits into a class we call input-output tier-based strictly local (IO-TSL), a natural extension of the familiar class TSL. IO-TSL increases the power of TSL’s tier projection function by making it an input-output strictly local transduction. Assuming that /n/-retroflexion represents the upper bound on the complexity of segmental phonology, this shows that all of segmental phonology can be captured by combining the intuitive notion of tiers with the independently motivated machinery of strictly local mappings.

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Sanskrit N-Retroflexion Is Input-Output Tier-Based Strictly Local

Tue 30 October 2018 | in Papers |
| phonology | subregular | tiers | nati | Sanskrit |

Graf, Thomas, and Connor Mayer

Abstract Sanskrit /n/-retroflexion is one of the most complex segmental processes in phonology. While it is still star-free, it does not fit in any of the subregular classes that are commonly entertained in the literature. We show that when …
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Logics of Phonological Reasoning

Sun 22 August 2010 | in Papers |
| phonology | generative capacity | subregular hierarchy | Sanskrit | Cairene Arabic | Creek | primary stress | modal logic | Government phonology | SPE |

Graf, Thomas

Abstract Inspired by Kracht (2003) and Potts and Pullum (2002), who use tools from mathematical logic in their investigation of phonological theories, I develop an extendable modal logic over string structures, which in turn is used to formalize a specific phonological theory, Government …
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Comparing Incomparable Frameworks: A Model Theoretic Approach to Phonology

Fri 01 January 2010 | in Papers |
| phonology | generative capacity | subregular hierarchy | Sanskrit | Cairene Arabic | Creek | primary stress |

Graf, Thomas

Abstract In previous work, we used techniques from mathematical logic and model theory to study and compare two phonological theories, SPE and Government Phonology. The surprising result was that Government Phonology corresponds to a very weak fragment of SPE, yet it can attain …
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Comparing Incomparable Frameworks —- a Model Theoretic Approach to Phonology

Fri 27 March 2009 | in Presentations |
| phonology | generative capacity | subregular | Sanskrit | Cairene Arabic | Creek | primary stress |

Graf, Thomas

Abstract In previous work, we used techniques from mathematical logic and model theory to study and compare two phonological theories, SPE and Government Phonology. The surprising result was that Government Phonology corresponds to a very weak fragment of SPE, yet it can attain …
read more

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