Another perspective on Bennett’s ‘Agreement, dependencies, and Surface Correspondence in Obolo and beyond’

  • Bruce Connell Centre for Research on Language and Culture Contact, Glendon College, York University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5842/48-0-679

Abstract

Bennett (2014) presents an analysis of phonotactic restrictions on nasal consonants in Obolo [ann] within the confines of Optimality Theory (OT) and Surface Correspondence (SC). My intention here is not to challenge Bennett’s OT/SC view of nasal consonants as being somehow wrong, though I think such accounts are not very satisfactory in understanding why a language is the way it is. Different theories may describe different aspects of the synchronic behaviour of a language reasonably well, though none perhaps entirely adequately. Rather, given that languages are shaped by a variety of influences, including their history, I look at the comparative and diachronic side of the Obolo data to provide what is both a complementary and alternative view to why the restrictions on nasal Cs in Obolo are what they are.

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Published
2016-01-26
How to Cite
Connell, B. (2016). Another perspective on Bennett’s ‘Agreement, dependencies, and Surface Correspondence in Obolo and beyond’. Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus, 48, 9-12. https://doi.org/10.5842/48-0-679
Issue
Vol. 48 (2015): SAMWOP-3 Special Issue of SPiL Plus
Section
Review Articles
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