Consonantal Coalescence in Affixation : English Class 1 Prefixation

Abstract

In this paper, I will investigate several cases of consonantal variation in English prefixation within Optimality Theory (McCarthy & Prince 1995). For this purpose, I will first show possible rule-based accounts on the consonantal variations in coN-prefixation and then point out several theoretical problems. Then, I will provide an optimality theoretic account on those allomorphs. In order words, I will show that our Optimality-theoretic approach is more advantageous than both segmental and nonlinear rule-based approaches in the account of segmental variation in affixation. Here I will argue that consonantal coalescence in very common in coN-prefixation in that all root-initial sonorants attract coalescence due to the faithfulness for root. I will also argue that certain prosodic considerations are necessary for a better account. This account on coN-prefixation will be extented to iN-prefixation since both cases share certain phonological similarities. During the discussion, however, it will be argued that despite many similarities, these two Class 2 prefixes are radically different in some ways and there should be a way to account for the difference. Moreover, as an additional evidence for my account, I will provide an account for co- realization of coN-before a vowel or /h/. Finally, I will conclude the paper by providing a theoretical implication of the overall discussion