Vocalic feature assimilation in Cairene Arabic and Buchan Scots. Contrast and phonological activity in the parallel structures model of feature geometry

Abstract

This thesis examines two phonological processes in which vocalic features assimilate to neighboring segments with complex consonant-vowel interactions, namely emphasis spread in Cairene Arabic and lowered larynx assimilation in Buchan Scots. I propose a non-linear analysis in the framework of the Parallel Structures Model (PSM) of feature geometry (Morén 2003). This model provides a unified account of the assimilation facts based on the complete phonemic inventories of the respective languages. In this theory, feature specifications are justified primarily on phonologically contrastive behavior. The analysis provided shows that a restrictive model such as the PSM attains a more succinct description of the phonological patterns as well as enhances greater empirical coverage with fewer resources. The main objective of this study is, therefore, three-fold. The first is to establish the contrastive inventories of Cairene Arabic and Buchan Scots with respect to which segments are phonologically active. The second is to provide full feature specifications of their contrastive segments in the Parallel Structures Model. The third is to describe and account for assimilation processes in these languages and describe the parallels between them in terms of application and feature analysis.