LINGUIST List 25.3279
Fri
Aug 15 2014
Diss: Computational
Linguistics, Morphology, Phonology: Chandlee:
'Strictly Local Phonological
Processes'
Editor for this issue:
Danuta Allen <danutalinguistlist.org>
Date: 15-Aug-2014
From: Jane Chandlee
<janemc
udel.edu>
Subject: Strictly Local
Phonological Processes
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Institution: University of Delaware
Program: Department of Linguistics &
Cognitive Science
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2014
Author: Jane Chandlee
Dissertation Title: Strictly Local Phonological
Processes
Dissertation URL:
http://udel.edu/~janemc/Chandlee_dissertation_2014.pdf
Linguistic Field(s): Computational
Linguistics
Morphology
Phonology
Dissertation Director:
Jeffrey N. Heinz
Dissertation Abstract:
This dissertation identifies a strong
computational property of phonological and
morphological processes with local triggers. It
is shown that the input-output mapping that
underlies these processes can be modeled with
Strictly Local (SL) functions, a previously
undefined class of subregular relations. The SL
functions, which are divided into two proper
subclasses of subsequential functions (the
Input SL functions and Output SL functions) are
characterized in automata-theoretic terms by
combining the properties of subsequential
transduction (Mohri, 1997) and the Strictly
Local formal languages (McNaughton and Papert,
1971; Rogers and Pullum, 2011; Rogers et al.,
2013). Importantly, the property of strict
locality is independent of and compatible with
both rule- and constraint-based grammatical
formalisms, since it holds of the input-output
mappings that both formalisms describe. The
range of processes that are shown to be
Strictly Local includes substitution, deletion,
insertion, synchronic metathesis, local partial
reduplication, and general affixation. This
computational property aids in identifying the
set of 'phonologically possible' processes
within the larger set of logically possible
processes. In addition, a learning algorithm
that provably learns the class of ISL functions
by using strict locality as an inductive
principle is also presented. These combined
contributions to typology and learning
demonstrate how computational analysis can
enhance our understanding of the nature of
locality in phonological processes.
Page Updated: 15-Aug-2014