The Domain of Gliding in French: An Optimality Theoretic Approach

Abstract

Gliding Formation is a domain-sensitive phonological process of European French in which the high vowels /i/ /y/ /u/ become their corresponding glides [j] [q] [w] in the presence of a following vowel, within the domain of the Prosodic Word. Previous studies have either ignored the fact that the phenomenon is sensitive to prosodic domains, or have established an unnecessaiy prosodic domain, i.e. the Clitic Group, in order to account for the behavior observed in prefix + root sequences. In such analyses, usually unstressed prefixes are erroneously assigned the status of Prosodic Words by default in order to comply with the Strict Layer Hypothesis. A more updated study, conducted by Noske (1996), proposes an Optimality Theoretic account for the phenomenon without any consideration to prosodic domains. As a result, illicit forms are predicted. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis for Gliding in French in which prosodic domains serve as loci for phonological processes. Accordingly, the studty complements the work of Noske for Gliding in French, within the same theoretic framework.