Splitting theory and consonant epenthesis

Abstract

This dissertation proposes Splitting theory of consonant epenthesis incorporating two key ideas: (1) there is a phonological operation ‘splitting’ where an input segment corresponds to multiple output segments, and (2) there is no insertion operation involving consonants. Within the Splitting theory epenthetic consonants always correspond to an input segment, and therefore the mapping is always regulated by constraints requiring input- output identity. From this perspective, homorganic glide epenthesis next to high vowels is the most faithful epenthesis possible. For example, in the mapping /i/→[ji], input /i/ corresponds to both [j] and [i] in the output, and both output segments preserve all input features. Splitting theory predicts that the epenthetic consonants may be unfaithful to their input vowel correspondent if the given vowel cannot faithfully appear in syllable margins. For example, there is no featurally identical glide counterpart of non-high vowels. Therefore next to non-high vowels there are several options for epenthetic consonants, all of which change some of the input’s features. While epenthetic consonants are generally as faithful as possible to the input segments from which they split, the most faithful consonant might be banned from a surface inventory. In these cases, the inserted consonant will be the one which preserves the input features protected by faithfulness constraints which are ranked the highest in a given language. An extreme case is found in Mongolian, where a dorsal/uvular stop is epenthesized in vowel hiatus because there is no other consonant that would preserve the place, voicing, and non-nasality of underlying vowels. Splitting theory’s emphasis on faithfulness disagrees with theories where the epenthetic segment does not correspond to any input segment. For example, Insertion theories predict that epenthetic [t] is possible, while Splitting theory imposes very restrictive (and practically insurmountable) conditions on any system having epenthetic [t]. Putative cases of epenthetic [t] are shown to admit alternative analyses (e.g. Ajyíninka Apurucayali). Splitting Theory is supported in an in-depth survey of the inventory of epenthetic consonants. The theory is illustrated by analyses of consonant epenthesis in Dutch, English, Faroese, Madurese, Mongolian, and Washo.