Use it to keep track of what we've done and where we're going.
Full citations for course readings can be found on the reading list.
W Jan 9
- Covered: Intro to course; Why do we need phonological theory?
- Reading: Kenstowicz & Kisseberth (1979), ch 2 excerpt; use Blackboard link and reading guide
- Discussion exercise: Turkish -- think about this data set in the context of the reading
- Phonetics quiz on W Jan 16; use the quiz study guide and the phonetics review links to study
M Jan 14
- Covered: Kenstowicz & Kisseberth (1979), ch 2,
and Turkish
- The importance of predictable and unpredictable information, and how to distinguish them
- URs and morphological alternation
- Discussion exercise: Thai obstruents -- think about this data set in the context of the last reading
- Phonetics quiz on W Jan 16; use the quiz study guide and the phonetics review links to study
W Jan 16
- Phonetics quiz
- Covered: URs and complementary distribution;
making a phonological argument --
Thai
- Listen to Thai stop contrasts (< Vowels and Consonants)
- Reading: Gussenhoven
& Jacobs (1998), ch 5; use Blackboard
link and
reading guide
- You might want to use the reading guide (Part 1) as a place to jot down definitions of each feature as it is introduced, to keep as a handy reference for later
- We will focus on sections 5.1-5.4, except for 5.4.4, next class (W 1/23). Be prepared to discuss the exercises in these sections of the reading, as well as the boxed exercise on p. 2 of the reading-guide handout
M Jan 21
-
No class -- Holiday
W Jan 23
- Covered:
- Discussion of phonetics quiz
- Conclusion to Thai problem -- What URs should we propose? What phonological rules/processes apply?
- Gussenhoven & Jacobs (1998), ch 5, sec 5.1-5.4 and exercises
- Assignment: PS#1,
Palauan, due M Jan 28
- See also grading rubric (PDF)
- Reading: Continue with Gussenhoven
& Jacobs (1998), ch 5
- We will focus on sections 5.5 and 5.6 for Monday's class
- Discussion exercise (optional):
Practice with expressing natural classes in G&J's feature system
- List the traditional C places of articulation (see IPA chart). How can they be expressed in G&J's system? Are enough distinctions being made?
M Jan 28
- Covered: Gussenhoven & Jacobs (1998), ch 5, sections 5.5-5.6 -- How are traditional categories of place of articulation for Cs, and traditional V categories, expressed in the G&J feature system? What natural class predictions are made in this system?
- Reading: Continue with Gussenhoven
& Jacobs (1998), ch 5
- We will focus on sections 5.4.4 and 5.7 for Wednesday's class
- Discussion exercise:
- Be prepared to discuss the questions in "Part II" of the reading-guide handout
- On vowel features in the G&J model: Northern Salentino problem
W Jan 30
- Covered: Gussenhoven & Jacobs (1998), ch 5, vowel features and sections 5.4.4, 5.7 -- More about natural classes, predictions, and interesting problems in feature theory
- Assignment: PS#2,
Cuzco Quechua, due M Feb 4
- See also grading rubric (PDF)
M Feb 4
- Covered: Working with feature systems and their predictions:
Cuzco Quechua problem
- Solution notes (PDF) available on Blackboard (Course documents > Comments on assignments)
- Reading: Kenstowicz (1994), Ch 6 excerpt; use Blackboard link (no reading guide -- this is a short introductory reading)
- Discussion exercise: Syllable-related problems -- be prepared to discuss these problems in class, and consider their implications for a formal model of syllable structure
W Feb 6
- Covered: Syllable structure -- discussion of syllable-related problems
- Assignment: PS#3,
Latin stress, due M Feb 11
- See also grading rubric (PDF)
- Prepare:
EXAM #1 is on W Feb 13- It looks like Exam #1 will move to M Feb 18, as long as there are no objections in class on Monday
M Feb 11
- Covered: More on syllable structure
- Discussion of Latin stress
- Syllable weight in moraic theory
- Prepare: EXAM #1 is on M Feb 18
- Here is a study guide; you will have a chance to ask questions on Wednesday
W Feb 13
- Covered: Review for exam
- Study guide
- Practice in working with phonological formalisms: Brazilian Portugese
- Prepare: EXAM #1 is on M Feb 18
M Feb 18
- EXAM #1
W Feb 20
- Covered: Introduction to constraint-based phonology: Targets, conspiracies, and constraints
- Reading: Schane (1973), ch V; use Blackboard link and reading guide
M Feb 25
- Covered:
- Discussion of Exam #1, especially with reference to working with a formal model and testing its predictions and abilities
- Overview of Schane (1973), ch V
- Discussion exercise: Read the handout called "Basic OT terminology and tableau formalism" and complete the worksheet handout called "Practice with basic tableau formalism, ranking arguments" (both handouts distributed in class) -- we will go over the worksheet answers, and any related issues that need discussing, on Wednesday
W Feb 27
- Covered: Basic OT terminology and tableau formalism; identifying valid ranking arguments
- Reading: Prince & Smolensky (2003), sections 1 and 2; use public link and reading guide
M Mar 3
- Covered: Prince & Smolensky (2003), sections 1 and 2 -- basic OT architecture; harmonic bounding; factorial typology
- Assignment: PS#4 (part 1), OT exercises, due W Mar 5
- Reading: Continue with Prince & Smolensky (2003), sections 3 and 4; use reading guide
W Mar 5
- Covered: Prince & Smolensky (2003), sections 3 and 4 -- allophonic alternations and their typological implications
- Assignment: PS#4 (part 2), OT exercises, due M Mar 17
- Reading: McCarthy (1999) handouts; use Blackboard
link
- Note that the constraint Parse is essentially an earlier version of the constraint Max
M Mar 10
-
No class -- Spring Break
W Mar 12
-
No class -- Spring Break
M Mar 17
- Covered: More about complementary distributions and phonological typology
- Reading: McCarthy (2008) excerpt; use public link
- Discussion exercise: Ponapean -- approach this with the techniques outlined in the reading
W Mar 19
- Covered: Practice with OT analysis: Ponapean
- Assignment: PS#5,
Latin glides, due W Mar 26
- See also grading rubric (PDF)
- Upcoming: Squib guidelines and resources page now available
M Mar 24
- Covered: More on Ponapean -- Identifying relevant constraints and making ranking arguments
- Assignment: PS#5,
Latin glides, due W Mar 26
- See also grading rubric (PDF)
- Discussion exercise: We will discuss reduplication examples on Wed; you are not required to prepare these examples in advance, but you may want to print out the data set and bring it to class
W Mar 26
- Covered: Reduplication, faithfulness, and Correspondence Theory (handout distributed in class)
- Assignment: Squib proposal due M Mar 31
- Upcoming: EXAM #2 will be distributed on M Mar 31 and due M Apr 7
M Mar 31
- Covered: Alignment (no handout)
- Assignment: EXAM #2 is due on M Apr 7 (bring any questions you have to class on Wed)
W Apr 2
- Covered: Opacity (handout distributed in class)
- Assignment: EXAM #2 is NOW due on W Apr 9
- Enjoy the Spring Colloquium this weekend!
M Apr 7
- Covered: Reduplication and advantages of OT over a rule-based approach (handout distributed in class)
- Assignment: EXAM #2 is due W Apr 9
W Apr 9
- Covered: Indexed (positional) constraints (handout distributed in class);
the three papers we saw excerpts from were
- Beckman (1997) [available online through UNC]
- Fukazawa, Kitahara, & Ota (1998) [available on ROA]
- Pater (2000) [available online through UNC]
- Reading: Gouskova (2002);
use public link
- Instead of a reading guide, there is a handout about reading phonology papers that I forgot to pass out in class...I have put it in your mailboxes in Dey 318 (e-mail for Connie)
M Apr 14
- Covered: Gouskova (2002) -- What is her proposal, and how does she set up her argumentation and discussion to justify it?
- Prepare: We will continue discussing Gouskova (2002) on Wed, and finish with some general discussion about the state of the art of phonological theory
- Upcoming: Squib presentations next week
- Covered: Wrap-up of Gouskova (2002); comments on Exam #2; general course wrap-up
- Upcoming: Squib presentations next week
- Grading rubrics for squib presentation and write-up are now available on the Squib guidelines and resources page
- Monday presenters: Submit your handout or slides to Jen by e-mail, by noon on Sunday
- Wednesday presenters: Submit your handout or slides to everyone else in the class by e-mail, by noon on Tuesday
PRESENTATION SCHEDULE
- M Apr 21: Inma, Victoria, Patrick
- W Apr 23: Connie, Lisa, Chris