Dissertation: On the relationship between static and dynamic generalizations in phonological learning
In current constraint-based models of phonological learning, it is often hypothesized that the learning static phonotactic generalizations occurs prior to the learning of dynamic phonological alternations. Further, it is also claimed that phonotactic learning aids in alternation learning. In my dissertation, I investigate this second claim by examining cases in which static and dynamic generalizations mismatch, concentrating on cases of non-derived environment blocking. The goals of the dissertation are two-fold. The first is to use experimental (artificial grammar learning) and corpus techniques to further our empirical understanding about these types of patterns. The second is to use these results to refine our models of phonological learning.
In current constraint-based models of phonological learning, it is often hypothesized that the learning static phonotactic generalizations occurs prior to the learning of dynamic phonological alternations. Further, it is also claimed that phonotactic learning aids in alternation learning. In my dissertation, I investigate this second claim by examining cases in which static and dynamic generalizations mismatch, concentrating on cases of non-derived environment blocking. The goals of the dissertation are two-fold. The first is to use experimental (artificial grammar learning) and corpus techniques to further our empirical understanding about these types of patterns. The second is to use these results to refine our models of phonological learning.