A Case of Absolute Neutralization in Turkish: T-Palatalization and its Predictability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8017307Keywords:
t-palatalization, vowel disharmony, absolute neutralization, lexicalizationAbstract
This study examines t-palatalization as an example of absolute neutralization in modern Standard Turkish within the framework of Government Phonology (GP), and attempts to present a theoretical and empirical account of t-palatalization in Turkish. The study claims that the process is not lexical but structurally conditioned and shows that the distribution of the palatalized t is predictable by the structural and phonological environment. This conclusion is drawn by two constraints that regulate the process of t-palatalization: (i) the elemental content of the relevant sounds and (ii) the syllable structure of words. By analyzing these constraints in detail, I demonstrate how t-palatalization operates by placing it within the theoretical context of GP.
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