Element interactions in intra- and interonset relations

 

Anna Bloch-Rozmej (Catholic University of Lublin)

 

 

The major focus of this presentation will be the distribution of the autosegmental licensing potential within onset domains and interonset licensing in terms of the conditions governing its contraction and effects. More specifically, we shall point to special relations holding between elements within and between onset expressions. Furthermore, the effects of element loss and element suppression will be considered. We shall advocate the hypothesis that  interonset bridging relations that stem from the establishment of interelement bridging are a specific manifestation of interonset licensing and hence require the fulfillment of special contraction conditions. Also, a possibility will be explored of unifying certain segmental dimensions, for instance voicing and stopness, and reconsidering the effects of headedness.

 

To illustrate the theoretical considerations mentioned above, we shall briefly outline the conclusions of several analyses couched within the framework of Government Phonology. We shall discuss a number of phenomena characteristic of the vocalic and consonantal systems of German, Polish and Irish. The processes, thanks to which one can gain valuable insight into interelement relations are umlaut, final devoicing, spirantisation or degemination in German, nasal vowels in Polish or vowel - consonant interactions in Connemara Irish. It will be demonstrated that certain processes are triggered once particular elements enter into bridging relations. Interelement domains may but do not have to exist under interonset licensing. The presentation will encompass the discussion of both of these cases.