Autosegmental Derivations

Connects autosegmental spreading to English nasal place assimilation data. Where SPE needs a separate rule per trigger place, autosegmental spreading captures the generalization in one operation: spread the place node from the stop onto the preceding nasal.

§ 1 demonstrates velar assimilation (/n/ + /k/ → [ŋk]) and § 2 demonstrates labial assimilation (/n/ + /p/ → [mp]).

@cite{clements-1985}

def Clements1985.ur_nk : Phonology.Autosegmental.AutosegRep

Underlying representation: /nk/ with no sharing.

Equations

• Clements1985.ur_nk = { segments := [Fragments.English.Phonology.n, Fragments.English.Phonology.k], sharing := [] }

def Clements1985.sr_nk : Phonology.Autosegmental.AutosegRep

Surface representation: result of spreading place from /k/ onto /n/.

Equations

• Clements1985.sr_nk = Clements1985.ur_nk.spreadFeatures 0 Phonology.FeatureGeometry.GeomNode.place

theorem Clements1985.n_k_disagree_at_place : Phonology.Autosegmental.agreeAt Fragments.English.Phonology.n Fragments.English.Phonology.k Phonology.FeatureGeometry.GeomNode.place = false

/n/ and /k/ disagree at the place node in the UR.

theorem Clements1985.spread_nk_agrees_at_place : (match sr_nk.segments[0]?, sr_nk.segments[1]? with | some s0, some s1 => Phonology.Autosegmental.agreeAt s0 s1 Phonology.FeatureGeometry.GeomNode.place | x, x_1 => false) = true

After spreading, the modified nasal agrees with /k/ at the place node.

theorem Clements1985.spread_nk_equals_ŋ : (match sr_nk.segments[0]? with | some s => s == Fragments.English.Phonology.ŋ | none => false) = true

Spreading /k/'s dorsal place onto /n/ produces exactly [ŋ].

theorem Clements1985.sr_nk_consistent : sr_nk.consistent = true

The surface representation is consistent (sharing matches feature values).

def Clements1985.ur_np : Phonology.Autosegmental.AutosegRep

Underlying representation: /np/ with no sharing.

Equations

• Clements1985.ur_np = { segments := [Fragments.English.Phonology.n, Fragments.English.Phonology.p], sharing := [] }

def Clements1985.sr_np : Phonology.Autosegmental.AutosegRep

Surface representation: result of spreading place from /p/ onto /n/.

Equations

• Clements1985.sr_np = Clements1985.ur_np.spreadFeatures 0 Phonology.FeatureGeometry.GeomNode.place

theorem Clements1985.n_p_disagree_at_place : Phonology.Autosegmental.agreeAt Fragments.English.Phonology.n Fragments.English.Phonology.p Phonology.FeatureGeometry.GeomNode.place = false

/n/ and /p/ disagree at the place node in the UR.

theorem Clements1985.spread_np_agrees_at_place : (match sr_np.segments[0]?, sr_np.segments[1]? with | some s0, some s1 => Phonology.Autosegmental.agreeAt s0 s1 Phonology.FeatureGeometry.GeomNode.place | x, x_1 => false) = true

After spreading, the modified nasal agrees with /p/ at the place node.

theorem Clements1985.spread_np_equals_m : (match sr_np.segments[0]? with | some s => s == Fragments.English.Phonology.m | none => false) = true

Spreading /p/'s labial place onto /n/ produces exactly [m].

theorem Clements1985.sr_np_consistent : sr_np.consistent = true

The surface representation is consistent (sharing matches feature values).