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Optimality theory has rapidly become the dominant framework in formal phonological theory. OT fundamentally revises the basic notions of generative grammar, replacing rules and derivations with a system of interacting constraints. Early work in OT tended to concentrate mainly on prosodic phonology and the phonology-morphology interface, and it was not initially clear how the theory could attack the rich range of phenomena found in segmental alterations. However, there is a body of work that concentrates on working out the details of featural phonology with OT, and this work shows that the theory allows superior explanations of the typological possibilities and the underlying motivations for these phenomena. This volume, first published in 2001, brings together work by some of the influential researchers in this area, ranging from the authors of influential dissertations to prominent senior faculty.

Phonetics --- Grammar, Comparative and general --- Optimality theory (Linguistics) --- Phonology. --- Optimality theory (Linguistics). --- Optimality (Linguistics) --- Optimization (Linguistics) --- Generative grammar --- Linguistics --- Philology --- Grammar, Comparative and general Phonology --- Phonology

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Grammar, Comparative and general --- Optimality theory (Linguistics) --- Optimality (Linguistics) --- Optimization (Linguistics) --- Generative grammar --- Phonology --- Linguistics --- Philology --- Grammar, Comparative and general Phonology

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Linguistics --- Optimality theory (Linguistics) --- Optimality (Linguistics) --- Optimization (Linguistics) --- Generative grammar --- Optimality theory (Linguistics). --- Applied linguistics --- Cognitive science --- Linguistique appliquée --- Sciences cognitives --- Optimality theory

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This is an introduction to Optimality Theory, whose central idea is that surface forms of language reflect resolutions of conflicts between competing constraints. A surface form is 'optimal' if it incurs the least serious violations of a set of constraints, taking into account their hierarchical ranking. Languages differ in the ranking of constraints; and any violations must be minimal. The book does not limit its empirical scope to phonological phenomena, but also contains chapters on the learnability of OT grammars; OT's implications for syntax; and other issues such as opacity. It also reviews in detail a selection of the considerable research output which OT has already produced. Exercises accompany chapters 1-7, and there are sections on further reading. Optimality Theory will be welcomed by any linguist with a basic knowledge of derivational Generative Phonology.

Optimality theory (Linguistics). --- Optimality theory (Linguistics) --- Languages & Literatures --- Philology & Linguistics --- Optimality (Linguistics) --- Optimization (Linguistics) --- Generative grammar --- Arts and Humanities --- Language & Linguistics

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Grammar --- Grammar, Comparative and general --- Lexical-functional grammar. --- Optimality theory (Linguistics) --- Syntax. --- Optimality theory (Linguistics). --- Lexical-functional grammar --- Optimality (Linguistics) --- Optimization (Linguistics) --- Generative grammar --- Language and languages --- Syntax --- Linguistics --- Philology --- Grammar, Comparative and general Syntax