Overview
This study advances a theory of weight in which a syllable shape in a given position is only heavy if it, on average, is sufficiently proportionally longer than a CV (consonant-vowel) in the same position. While the analysis of weight is consistent with the basic tenets of moraic theory, a departure is made from standard moraic theory which takes moras to be prosodic units associated directly to segments. Many languages, including Norwegian, exhibit CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) weight asymmetry: CVC is usually heavy but behaves as light word-finally. It is proposed that this asymmetry is motivated by facts of phonetic length and human perception. The theory of weight proposed treats moras a property of syllables as a whole. The stress system of Norwegian is analyzed in detail, taking the categorization of syllable weight to be pre-determined by this weight criterion. Evidence for the stress pattern of the language is drawn from the lexicon and the results of a novel word experiment administered to native Norwegian speakers, giving a more motivated and complete analysis of Norwegian stress than has previously been proposed.
Full Product Details
Author: Stephanie L. Anya Lunden
Publisher: The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd
Imprint: Edwin Mellen Press Ltd
ISBN: 9780773437609
ISBN 10: 0773437606
Pages: 212
Publication Date: 30 November 2009
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
The grounding of final extrametricality in these independent observations about speech production and perception distinguishes Lunden's work from other accounts based primarily on theory-internal mechanisms and promises to make this study a seminal contribution to the research program on syllable weight. - Prof. Matthew Gordon University of California, Santa Barbara ... this work combines strong theoretical and rigorous experimental analysis to show how generalizations that are better attuned to phonetic realities can dramatically benefit phonology. Lunden's work lays the foundation for a very interesting program of research. - Prof. Jaye Padgett University of California, Santa Cruz
"""The grounding of final extrametricality in these independent observations about speech production and perception distinguishes Lunden's work from other accounts based primarily on theory-internal mechanisms and promises to make this study a seminal contribution to the research program on syllable weight."" - Prof. Matthew Gordon University of California, Santa Barbara ""... this work combines strong theoretical and rigorous experimental analysis to show how generalizations that are better attuned to phonetic realities can dramatically benefit phonology. Lunden's work lays the foundation for a very interesting program of research."" - Prof. Jaye Padgett University of California, Santa Cruz"""
