Manner Assimilation in Korean

Abstract

This study is to show that compared with rule-based analyses, a constraint-based analysis in Optimality Theory presents a better account of manner assimilation in Korean and that Sonority Contact Law operating 10 the intersyllabic consonants plays a key role in explaining as well as in describing the phenomenon. The account using feature changing rules does not explain why nasalization, not denasalization, occurs, while another account in the framework of feature geometry and underspecification cannot provide an explanation as to why the manner assimilation occurs from right to left, not to left to right. Both accounts show another weakness of lack in generality by treating obstruent nasalization, I l/-nasalization, and /n/-Iateralization as three separate processes. On the other hand, the present analysis in Optimality Theory overcomes the problems of directionality and generality of the rule-based analyses. Manner assimilation is a result of the constraint ranking in which, interwoven with the faithfulness constraints, the sonority-based markedness constraints*SR and*SP operate to observe Sonority Contact Law. According to the law, a coda must not be less sonorous than the following onset and thus manner assimilation applies from right to left. By using the same constraint hierarchy the three separate processes can be described as one process of repairing the inappropriate situation of sonority difference between a coda and the following onset.