NN Sequences, the Vowel [ɨ] and Domains in Korean

Abstract

This paper deals with the asymmetrical distribution of [i] in NN (N: nasal) clusters in Korean. Morpheme·internally, this vowel is absent between two nasals when they are flanked by two vowels. However, in connective and effective suffixation, this vowel does intervene in these clusters and yet it is absent in interrogative and assertive suffixation. This paper proposes that the presence/absence of [i] in these clusters can be analysed in terms of the Empty Category Principle (ECP). Specifically, it is assumed that [i] is lexically represented by an empty nucleus and surface consonant clusters are syllabified as two onsets intervened by an empty nucleus. The phonetic interpretation of empty nuclei is determined by the ECP in well-defined contexts that are provided by the morphology. The analysis proposes that the asymmetrical distribution of [i] in NN clusters is appropriately accounted for by the ECP with the interaction of three types of domains, i.e. bare stem, non-analytic and analytic.