This is an introduction to Optimality Theory, whose central idea is that surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing constraints. The book does not limit its empirical scope to phonological phenomena, but also contains chapters on the learnability of OT grammars; OT's implications for syntax; and other issues such as opacity. Exercises accompany chapters 1-7, and there are sections on further reading. Optimality Theory will be welcomed by any linguist with a basic knowledge of derivational Generative Phonology.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"This volume is an excellent introduction to the principles and worlings of optimality theory, a relatively new constraint-based framework....a superior introduction to the most current version of optamality theory..." Studies in Second Language Acquisition
"Kager's book provides a comprehensive overview of OT theory and practice....It is noteworthy for its attention to detail and its analysis of arguments." Lanuage in Society
"Kager's book provides a comprehensive overview of OT theory and practice....It is noteworthy for its attention to detail and its analysis of arguments." Lanuage in Society
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Text: English
--This text refers to the
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Paperback Kager,
This review is from: Optimality Theory (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics) (Paperback)
This book was good overall, with plenty of tableaux covering issues in phonology as well as syntax, and taking a look at problems with OT. However, there were LOTS of mistakes, in the tableaux (which made them very confusing for a beginner) as well as in the body text. The only other issue I have is that the constraint index in the back doesn't list all the constraints mentioned in the book. Maybe the next edition will be better. But overall, still a pretty well-written text.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic! Buy this book!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Optimality Theory (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics) (Hardcover)
Great educational value; the first book in the marketplace with high value exercices on resolutions of conflicts between competing constraints. I have only a basic knowledge of derivational Generative Phonology, but encountered no barriers to enter the world of Optimality Theory.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Optimality Theory,
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This review is from: Optimality Theory (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics) (Paperback)
The author helps to make Optimality Theory accessible to the reader without much background knowledge. It is much better in this regard than the Prince and Smolensky version. It also has useful excercises at the end of each chapter. However, the author does not provide answers, which I think would have been particularly helpful.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The central goal of linguistic theory is to shed light on the core of grammatical principles that is common to all languages. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
constraint demotion, maximal demotion, contextual markedness constraint, deverbal action nouns, minimal demotion, factorial typology, nasal substitution, faithfulness constraints, backness adjustment, harmonic ranking, infixing reduplication, markedness constraints, ranking schemata, demotion justified, absolute ungrammaticality, epenthetic segments, undominated constraints, allophonic pattern, canonical iamb, nasal vocoids, input faithfulness, ranking correctly, related output forms, positional faithfulness, consonant epenthesis Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Optimality Theory, Axininca Campa, Lexicon Optimization, Palestinian Arabic, Local Conjunction, Southeastern Tepehuan, Linguistic Inquiry, Basic Model, Timugon Murut, Richness of the Base, Isthmus Nahuat, Southern Paiute, American English, Recursive Ranking, Anti-Loop Provision, University of Massachusetts, Containment Theory, Lyman's Law, Boumaa Fijian, Lexical Phonology, Schema Faithfulness, University of California, Complementizer Phrase, Akademie Verlag, Armin Mester New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The central goal of linguistic theory is to shed light on the core of grammatical principles that is common to all languages. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
constraint demotion, maximal demotion, contextual markedness constraint, deverbal action nouns, minimal demotion, factorial typology, nasal substitution, faithfulness constraints, backness adjustment, harmonic ranking, infixing reduplication, markedness constraints, ranking schemata, demotion justified, absolute ungrammaticality, epenthetic segments, undominated constraints, allophonic pattern, canonical iamb, nasal vocoids, input faithfulness, ranking correctly, related output forms, positional faithfulness, consonant epenthesis Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Optimality Theory, Axininca Campa, Lexicon Optimization, Palestinian Arabic, Local Conjunction, Southeastern Tepehuan, Linguistic Inquiry, Basic Model, Timugon Murut, Richness of the Base, Isthmus Nahuat, Southern Paiute, American English, Recursive Ranking, Anti-Loop Provision, University of Massachusetts, Containment Theory, Lyman's Law, Boumaa Fijian, Lexical Phonology, Schema Faithfulness, University of California, Complementizer Phrase, Akademie Verlag, Armin Mester New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 28
books:
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100
books
cite this book:
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- Optimality Theory: Phonology, Syntax, and Acquisition (Oxford Linguistics) by Joost Dekkers on 5 pages
- Studies in Lexical Phonology, Volume 4 (Phonetics and Phonology) by Sharon Hargus in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Child Language (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics) by Alison J. Elliot in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Yearbook of Morphology 1999 (Volume 9) by G.E. Booij on page 141, and Back Matter
- Learnability in Optimality Theory by Bruce Tesar on page 338, and Back Matter
See all 28 books this book cites
- Optimality Theory in Phonology: A Reader by John J. McCarthy on 25 pages
- Optimality Theory: Phonology, Syntax, and Acquisition (Oxford Linguistics) by Joost Dekkers on 17 pages
- Constraints in Phonological Acquisition by René Kager on 14 pages
- Optimality Theory and Language Change (Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory) by D.E. Holt on 14 pages
- The Syllable in Optimality Theory by Caroline Féry on 10 pages
See all 100 books citing this book
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