Ling M: Logical Phonology (semi advanced)
Kyle Gorman (City University of New York (CUNY))
Charles Reiss (Concordia University, Montreal)
Tues/Thurs/Sat July 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24
9:00-10:20 am (NY) / 4:00-5:20 pm (St. Pete/Kyiv)
9:00-10:20 am (NY) / 4:00-5:20 pm (St. Pete/Kyiv)
In this course we will discuss a number of topics in phonological theory deriving from basic ideas within generative linguistics and the application of set-theoretic reasoning. These include:
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the application of philosophical notions such as Fodor's "epistemic boundedness" as an answer to the question "why phonology?",
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the argument from the poverty of the stimulus in phonology,
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the interpretation of natural classes and variables,
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substance-freeness vs. markedness in phonology,
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the subset principle in phonology,
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the use of set subtraction and unification operations to compute intrasegmental feature changes,
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the use of underspecification to account for apparent "exceptionality" and "morphophonology" within the narrow phonology,
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the formulation of segment insertion and deletion rules, and
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the use of modus tollendo ponens and reductio ad absurdum in phonological reasoning.