Generative phonology has many adherents, and not a few critics, but surprisingly few good expositors. François Dell provides here both a general introduction and a detailed illustration of the operation of the theory in practice, introducing the main concepts of phonology and its place in the grammar of a language. The approach is in the tradition of Chomsky and Halle, emphasizing the interactions between syntax, morphology and phonology, and aiming at the discovery of general principles which shape the sound patterns of all languages. He then applies these concepts to particular case studies, on the maxim that the best way to understand a system of this kind is to use it. This was first published as Part I of Les règles et les sons (Hermann, 1973).

Concreteness in Generative Phonology presents major topics in French phonology and morphology within the theoretical framework of generative grammar. The concrete analyses advocated in Bernard Tranel’s study constitute a radical departure from the abstract solutions proposed in previous generative treatments. Abundant internal and external evidence anchors the concrete approach, which is based on the recognition of the lexical nature of nasal vowels, the absence of protective schwas, and the necessity of a rule-feature analysis for h-aspire words. French phonology has been a well-known subject of controversy, both because French is an influential Indo-European language and because the complexity of the data has made it difficult to decide certain issues. This integrated account brings to bear data generally omitted from consideration, demonstrates the critical role that substantive evidence plays as a tool of investigation, and provides a data-based comparison between two approaches within the same broad generative framework. Taking advantage of certain theoretical developments, Tranel presents each problem set of data alongside previous and logical possible analyses and clearly lays out the arguments for and against each analysis. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1981.

This book is a collection of readings in phonological theory with special reference to English. The essays it contains are all concerned to a significant extent with discussion and criticism of the theory of phonology developed by Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle in their monograph The Sound Pattern of English. The aim in compiling this collection has been to bring together new papers, and papers that were previously only available in informal duplicated form or in comparatively inaccessible publications. This collection is of value to anyone teaching or studying English or general linguistics who wishes to make a serious study of current phonological theory, and serves as a reference anthology of permanent value to the specialist.

Elements, Government and Licensing brings together new theoretical and empirical developments in phonology. It covers three principal domains of phonological representation: melody and segmental structure; tone, prosody and prosodic structure; and phonological relations, empty categories, and vowel-zero alternations. Theoretical topics covered include the formalisation of Element Theory, the hotly debated topic of structural recursion in phonology, and the empirical status of government. In addition, a wealth of new analyses and empirical evidence sheds new light on empty categories in phonology, the analysis of certain consonantal sequences, phonological and non-phonological alternation, the elemental composition of segments, and many more. Taking up long-standing empirical and theoretical issues informed by the Government Phonology and Element Theory, this book provides theoretical advances while also bringing to light new empirical evidence and analysis challenging previous generalisations. The insights offered here will be equally exciting for phonologists working on related issues inside and outside the Principles & Parameters programme, such as researchers working in Optimality Theory or classical rule-based phonology.

Vol. 1 contains papers delivered at the 2d Karpacz Conference on Contrastive Linguistics, 1971.

A comprehensive, detailed, and well-illustrated undergraduate French language/linguistics textbook with CD-ROM. The book focuses on pronunciation of Modern Standard French, and incorporates regional and social variations, abbreviatory processes and 'word play'. It looks at historical phonological changes which continue through today. Perfect for readers and learners with little or no formal training in linguistics. The CD-ROM provides invaluable oral examples crucial to linguistic study.