Overview

This undergraduate seminar follows up on topics in phonological theory introduced in Ling 402. The theme of the seminar varies from year to year, since it focuses on current phonological theory. This year we will be discussing Optimality Theory, with a special focus on the typology of stress systems. Languages differ in their patterns of stress placement: French has stress on the final syllable of the word, while English and Spanish place stress on one of the last three syllables of the word. The question we will address is: What are the constraints that are responsible for the similarities and differences that we find across the world’s languages? We will begin with an overview of the basics of stress and of Optimality Theory, and then go on to discuss recent literature in this area, and come up with our own analyses of stress systems. The course will be run in a seminar/discussion format- I will present the readings, but I will assume that you have read them, and are ready to talk about them. There will also be problem sets that will inform our class discussions. The course will end with presentations of term papers, in which students can share with each other the results of their research. Requirements 1. Do the readings before class, and be ready to critically discuss the