Non-universality in Optimality Theory : An Information-based Model

Abstract

This paper focuses on non-universality in standard OT. Non-universality in OT can be considered in two aspects: language-specific constraints and item-specific constraint ranking. Contrary to the basic assumption of OT, universality of constraints, there are language-specific non-universal constraint. In addition, applicability of the trisyllabic laxing rule implicates that different morphemes require different constraint ranking. Russell's morpheme-constraint model proposes abstract signature of morphemes and gatekeeper which controls different rankings for different morphemic items. This paper expands his idea and proposes a special component, termed Supervisor (SUP). Since operation of SUP is activated based on the information contained in input, information-contained input becomes critical in my proposal. My proposal thus proffers a solution for non-universality issue of standard OT.