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Alternatives to the iambic-trochaic law

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Abstract

This article seeks to develop alternatives to recent theories (Hayes 1985, 1987, 1991; McCarthy and Prince 1986, 1990; Prince 1991) that explain quantitative asymmetries between iambic and trochaic systems on the basis of a rhythmiciambic-trochaic law. The theory proposed here derives such asymmetries from two different rhythmic factors: moraic prominence-relations internal to heavy syllables, and avoidance of clash and lapse in sequences of moras. Firstly, it argues for a distinction between parsing feet and surface feet. Parsing feet draw from a symmetric foot inventory, based on two parameters:stressable element (mora vs. syllable), andheadedness (iambic vs. trochaic). That is, the basic foot inventory is no longer governed by the iambic-trochaic law. Secondly, parsing feet are mapped into surface feet by rules that impose quantitative changes, or by stray adjunction, induced by strict prosodic layering. Thirdly, a rhythmic sub-theory defines filters that rule out clashes and lapses in sequences of moras or syllables, depending on the type of stressable element. It explains iambic-trochaic asymmetries with respect to lengthening and shortening, and an asymmetry with respect to directionality of iambic parsing. Evidence will be presented from Tübatulabal, Yidiny, Araucanian, Chugach Alutiiq Yupik, Cayuga, Latin, and English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Onderzoeksinstituut voor Taal en Spraak, Universiteit van Utrecht, Trans 10, 3512 JK, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    René Kager

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The research on this article was completed during my stays at UCLA (1989–1990) and Stanford University (1990–1991). An earlier version was presented atCLS in 1991. Work on final revisions was supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Grant No. 300-171-023. For valuable discussion and/or comments on earlier versions of this article, I wish to thank Wim de Haas, Bruce Hayes, Harry van der Hulst, Larry Hyman, Sharon Inkelas, Michael Kenstowicz, Tracy King, Paul Kiparsky, Armin Mester, Chris Piñon, Alan Prince, Chang Yong Sohn, and three anonymous NLLT referees. All mentioned above are free from any responsibility for errors.

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Kager, R. Alternatives to the iambic-trochaic law. Nat Lang Linguist Theory 11, 381–432 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993165

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