Explaining phonotactics using NAD

• Published in: Language sciences (Oxford) Vol. 46; pp. 6 - 17
• Main Author: Dziubalska-Kołaczyk, Katarzyna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Beats and Binding Phonology; Morphonotactics; Net Auditory Distance; Phonotactics; Polish; NP; Polish; POA; OT; SSG; NAD; Phonotactics; Morphonotactics; Beats and Binding Phonology; Net Auditory Distance; MOA; NL; B&B
• ISSN: 0388-0001; 1873-5746
• DOI: 10.1016/j.langsci.2014.06.003

This paper presents a model of phonotactic grammar in which wellformedness of consonant clusters is measured by NAD. NAD stands for a Net Auditory Distance obtaining between segments in a cluster. The auditory distance is a net reflection of the differences between segments in terms of manner (MOA) and place of articulation (POA). It is calculated according to the Principle which states that a cluster is preferred if it satisfies a pattern of distances specified by the universal phonotactic preference relevant for its position in a word. Every position of a cluster in a word, i.e. initial, medial and final, is defined by a respective well-formedness (“goodness of cluster”) preference. The NAD Principle makes finer predictions than the sonority sequencing generalization (SSG). For example, it predicts that initial pr- is “better” (more preferred) that tr-, and they are both better than ps- or rt-, while the latter two are of comparable value. However, phonology alone does not fully account for clusters. Inflection, word-formation and compounding contribute to the creation of consonant clusters to an extent relative to a morphological type of a language. Therefore, a phonotactic grammar operates on basic, non-derived, lexical forms, while morphonotactics takes care of the remaining, morphologically complex, forms. Interaction between phonotactics and morphonotactics provides a richer insight into the understanding of cluster complexity. •Net Auditory Distance as a measure of wellformedness in phonotactics.•Phonotactic calculator as a measurement tool.•Morphonotactic constraints on clusters.