Phonology: case studies

Derivational analysis of vowel deletion

The restriction on distribution (*V#V) defines a position where a vowel cannot occur. As in a neutralization distribution, the underlying representation of an alternating morpheme must include the restricted class of sounds. So in this case, the underlying representation must include the vowel: /kuβóna, umŋâ:na, umu:nɦu, aβa:nɦu, umugaβo, iɟitaβo, inɦéβe, iŋguɾuβe/. To derive the consonant-final alternant, then, we need to posit a rule that deletes the word-final vowel before a vowel:

V → ø / ___ # V

OT analysis