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Rule ordering, interference, and free alternation in phonology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2026

John G. Fought
John G. Fought*
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
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Abstract

Attempts to justify the principle of asymmetrical ordering have failed to consider some of the alternative relations among phonological rules and have ignored the problems raised by free alternation. Many free alternation patterns, like the i/y/iy, u/v/uv of Sanskrit and the complex vowel sequence alternations of Chorti (Mayan), cannot be generated economically by rules applicable only in fixed linear or cyclical order, but can be by rules applicable in alternative or symmetric order, a–b or b–a. Variable coefficients like Labov's are adaptable to systems of symmetrically or QUASI-ORDERED rules, permitting description of idiolectal and stylistic features in terms of the frequency of rule-choice—or, for closer approximations, of rule-sequence choice. A preliminary application of this approach to Chorti morphophonemic data leads to the isolation of three narrative styles and demonstrates the independence of the alternation rules within the community.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Language , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , March 1973 , pp. 67 - 86
Copyright
Copyright © Linguistic Society of America 1973

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