Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-cjp7w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-07T06:33:18.398Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Licence to govern*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2008

Monik Charette
Affiliation:
SOAS, University of London

Extract

In this paper I consider the behaviour of word-internal empty nuclei preceded by a consonant cluster. I provide a principled account for the fact that in this context a properly governable empty nucleus receives a phonetic interpretation. To do so I introduce a new notion: GOVERNMENT-LICENSING. I argue that a non-nuclear head can govern a complement only if (i) it has the required charm value, or if charmless, the required complexity, and (ii) it is licensed to govern by a following nuclear head. Among other things government-licensing accounts for the phonetic realisation of an empty nucleus following a governing onset head (i.e. a non-nuclear skeletal point which governs a rhymal or an onset complement), and for the simplification of a consonant cluster preceding an unrealised empty nucleus. If, in order to govern a complement, a nonnuclear point must be government-licensed and if a properly governed empty nucleus may not be such a licenser, in a situation where a properly governable empty nucleus follows a consonant cluster we predict the two following possibilities: to license the consonant to govern, the empty nucleus will fail to be properly governed, or proper government will apply, preventing the non-nuclear head from governing its complement, which entails the loss of this head.

Type
Phonological government
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anderson, S. (1982). The analysis of French schwa: or, how to get something from nothing. Lg 58.534573.Google Scholar
Charette, M. (1988). Some constraints on governing relations in phonology. PhD dissertation, McGill University.Google Scholar
Charette, M. (1989). The Minimality Condition in phonology. JL 25. 159187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Charette, M. (1990). The effect of floating consonants on word-final empty nuclei. Paper presented at the 1990 GLOW colloquium, London.Google Scholar
Charette, M. (forthcoming). Conditions on phonological government. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, J. & J., Kaye (1989). A tale of two cities. Ms, SOAS & University College, London.Google Scholar
Kaye, J. (1990). Government in phonology: the case of Moroccan Arabic. The Linguistic Review 6. 131159.Google Scholar
Kaye, J. D. & Lowenstamm, J. (1984). De la syllabicité. In Dell, F., Hirst, D. & Vergnaud, J.-R. (eds.) Forme sonore du language. Paris: Hermann. 123159.Google Scholar
Kaye, J. D., J., Lowenstamm & J.-R., Vergnaud (1985). The internal structure of phonological elements: a theory of charm and government. Phonology Yearbook 2. 305328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaye, J. D., J., Lowenstamm & J.-R., Vergnaud (1989). Rektion und Konstituentrektion in der Phonologie. Linguistische Berichte 114. 3175.Google Scholar
Kenstowicz, M. & Kidda, M. (1987). The Obligatory Contour Principle and Tangale phonology. In Odden, D. (ed.) Current approaches to African linguistics. Vol. 4. Dordrecht: Foris. 223238.Google Scholar
Kidda,, M. (1985). Tangale phonology: a descriptive analysis. PhD dissertation, University of Illinois.Google Scholar
Nikiema, E. (1989 a). Vocalic epenthesis reanalyzed: the case of Tangale. In Hutchison, J. & Manfredi, V. (eds.) Current approaches to African linguistics. Vol. 7. Dordrecht: Foris. 4151.Google Scholar
Nikiema, E. (1989 b). Gouvernement propre et licenciement en phonologie: le cas du tangale. Langues Orientales Anciennes, Philologie et Linguistique 2. 225251.Google Scholar
Yoshida, S. (1990). Some aspects of governing relations in Japanese phonology. PhD dissertation, SOAS.Google Scholar