Chapter 18

Rules and Derivations

Submitted by: M. Jamal Mustafa

Submitted to: Prof. Dr. Nabi Syed
MPhil English Linguistics
University of Education Lahore.
(Multan Campus)

1. CiV-Lengthening: This rule describes the lengthening of a non-high vowel when it is followed by
a consonant + 'i' + vowel sequence. The rule is:
makefileCopy code
CiV-Lengthening: [V] → [Vː] / ___[+cons][-cons][-cons][−high][−back]
● Example: "Canadian" → "Canadːian", "Mongolian" → "Mongolːian"
2. s-Voicing: This rule describes the voicing of the 's' sound when it is preceded by a long vowel.
The rule is:
cssCopy code
s—[+voice] / [-cons][−cons]
● Example: "gymnasium" → "gymnaʒium", "fantasy" → "fantaʒia"
3. Feeding Order: This refers to the rule ordering where the first rule creates the input required by
the second rule.
4. Counterfeeding Order: This refers to the rule ordering where the second rule would feed the
first rule if the ordering were reversed.

Simplified Explanation with Examples:

1. CiV-Lengthening:
● This rule lengthens a vowel when it is followed by a sequence of consonant + 'i' + vowel.
● Example:
● "Canadian" → "Canadːian"
● "Mongolian" → "Mongolːian"
2. s-Voicing:
● This rule makes the 's' sound voiced when it is preceded by a long vowel.
 ● Example:
● "gymnasium" → "gymnaʒium"
● "fantasy" → "fantaʒia"

Rule Ordering:

● Feeding Order:
● CiV-Lengthening must apply before s-Voicing. The lengthened vowel from CiV-
Lengthening creates the necessary environment for s-Voicing.
● Example:

● "Caucasian" → "Caucːasian" → "Caucːaʒian"

● Counterfeeding Order:
● If s-Voicing is ordered before CiV-Lengthening, it cannot apply because the relevant
vowel is still short.
● Example:

● "Caucasian" → "Caucːasian" → "Caucʒasian"

Additional Concepts:

● Diphthongization: This rule changes a vowel into a diphthong, which is a combination of two
vowel sounds.
● Example:
● "ear" → "iaʁ" (This is just a made-up example for illustration purposes, as the
text doesn't provide a specific example for diphthongization.)

1. CiV-Lengthening: This rule describes the lengthening of a non-high vowel when it is followed by
a consonant + 'i' + vowel sequence. The rule is:
makefileCopy code
CiV-Lengthening: [V] → [Vː] / ___[+cons][-cons][-cons][−high][−back]
● Example: "Canadian" → "Canadːian", "Mongolian" → "Mongolːian"
2. s-Voicing: This rule describes the voicing of the 's' sound when it is preceded by a long vowel.
The rule is:
cssCopy code
s—[+voice] / [-cons][−cons]
● Example: "gymnasium" → "gymnaʒium", "fantasy" → "fantaʒia"
3. Feeding Order: This refers to the rule ordering where the first rule creates the input required by
the second rule.
4. Counterfeeding Order: This refers to the rule ordering where the second rule would feed the
first rule if the ordering were reversed.

Simplified Explanation with Examples:

1. CiV-Lengthening:
● This rule lengthens a vowel when it is followed by a sequence of consonant + 'i' + vowel.
● Example:
● "Canadian" → "Canadːian"
● "Mongolian" → "Mongolːian"
2. s-Voicing:
● This rule makes the 's' sound voiced when it is preceded by a long vowel.
● Example:
● "gymnasium" → "gymnaʒium"
● "fantasy" → "fantaʒia"

Rule Ordering:

● Feeding Order:
● CiV-Lengthening must apply before s-Voicing. The lengthened vowel from CiV-
Lengthening creates the necessary environment for s-Voicing.
● Example:

● "Caucasian" → "Caucːasian" → "Caucːaʒian"

● Counterfeeding Order:
● If s-Voicing is ordered before CiV-Lengthening, it cannot apply because the relevant
vowel is still short.
● Example:

● "Caucasian" → "Caucːasian" → "Caucʒasian"

Additional Concepts:

● Diphthongization: This rule changes a vowel into a diphthong, which is a combination of two
vowel sounds.
● Example:
 ●"ear" → "iaʁ" (This is just a made-up example for illustration purposes, as the
text doesn't provide a specific example for diphthongization.)
Main Concepts:
1. Vowel Shift: This rule changes the quality of certain vowels under specific conditions.
● Example: A long, non-high vowel changes to a high vowel.
2. Diphthongization: This rule turns a single vowel into a diphthong by adding a high vowel to it.
● Example: "ea" → "iaʁ"
Bleeding and Counterbleeding:

● Bleeding Order: A rule removes material needed for a subsequent rule to apply.
● Example: Diphthongization applied before Vowel Shift makes the vowel too short for
Vowel Shift to work.
● Counterbleeding Order: Reversing the order of two rules to prevent bleeding.
● Example: Applying Vowel Shift before Diphthongization ensures that Vowel Shift can
work as intended.
Rule Ordering Relations:
1. Feeding: The first rule creates the input required by the second rule.
2. Counterfeeding: The second rule would feed the first rule if the ordering were reversed.
3. Bleeding: The first rule removes material needed for the second rule to apply.
4. Counterbleeding: Reversing the order to prevent bleeding.
Simplified Explanation:
Vowel Shift and Diphthongization Order:
● Bleeding Order: If Diphthongization is applied before Vowel Shift, Vowel Shift cannot apply
because the vowel is no longer long.
● Example: "Caucasian" → "Cauc/ee:/sian" (Diphthongization) → "Cauclet|sian" (Incorrect
Vowel Shift)
● Counterbleeding Order: Applying Vowel Shift before Diphthongization ensures that Vowel Shift
can work as intended.
● Example: "Caucasian" → "Cauc/ez:/sian" (Vowel Shift) → "Caucl[et]sian"
(Diphthongization)
Main Concepts:
1. Transitivity: If the orderings A > B and B > C can be empirically established, then it follows
that A > C by transitivity.
2. s-Voicing: A rule that changes the voice quality of the 's' sound in certain environments.
● Example: "c" in "resist" changes to "z" due to s-Voicing.
3. Velar Softening: A rule that changes the sound of "k" and "g" to "s" and "dz" respectively
before front non-low vowels.
● Example: "k" in "critic" changes to "s" due to Velar Softening.
4. Vowel Shift: A rule that changes the quality of certain vowels under specific conditions.
5. Diphthongization: A rule that turns a single vowel into a diphthong by adding a high vowel to
it.
Transitivity in Rule Ordering:

● If we can empirically establish the orderings A > B and B > C, then A > C by transitivity.
Simplified Explanation:
Establishing the Order:
1. s-Voicing > Velar Softening: Based on the alternations in words like "resist" and "critic."
2. Velar Softening > Vowel Shift: To resolve the challenges presented by words like "recede" and
"resist."
3. Vowel Shift > Diphthongization: To maintain consistency in the transformation of vowels.

By applying the principle of transitivity to these established orderings, we can conclude:

● Overall Rule Orderings:

● CiV-Lengthening
● s-Voicing
● Velar Softening
● Vowel Shift
● Diphthongization

Palatalization
Palatalization is a phonological process where a consonant becomes palatalized due to the
influence of a following vowel. In the context of the text, it is particularly discussed in relation to
the sound [z] resulting from s-Voicing.

Examples:
● s-Voicing > Palatalization:
● Original: "Caucasian" → [kɔːˈkeɪ.ʒən]
● With Palatalization: [kɔːˈkeɪ.ʃən]
● Independent Palatalization:
● "impression" → [ɪmˈprɛʃ.ən]
● "obsession" → [əbˈsɛʃ.ən]
 Rule Formalization
The text provides formal rules to describe the palatalization process and its conditions:

Palatalization Rule (26):

● Environment: Before a consonant and a high vowel, immediately following the stressed
syllable.
● Result: The consonant undergoes palatalization.

[j]-Deletion Rule (27):

● Environment: After a non-anteior, high vowel, and before another consonant of certain
features.
● Result: The [j] sound is deleted.
Position of Palatalization in Rule Orderings
The text discusses where Palatalization fits within a set of phonological rule orderings, which are
based on empirical observations.

Established Orderings:
● CiV-Lengthening > s-Voicing
● s-Voicing > Velar Softening
● Velar Softening > Vowel Shift
● Vowel Shift > Diphthongization
Position of Palatalization:
● Palatalization comes after Velar Softening, as it is logically justified by the progression: logi[k]ian
→ logi[s]ian → logi[ʃ]ian.

Simplified Explanation
1. Palatalization is a process where certain consonants change their pronunciation due to the
influence of a following vowel.
2. The process is formalized with specific rules that describe when and how it occurs.
3. Palatalization occurs after Velar Softening and before [j]-Deletion in the established rule
orderings.
4. The overall orderings of phonological rules show a branching after Velar Softening, with
different paths leading to Vowel Shift > Diphthongization and Palatalization > [j]-Deletion.

In essence, the text provides a detailed exploration of how Palatalization interacts with other
phonological rules and its position within a set of phonological rule orderings.
 The text provided is a detailed discussion of various phonological rules and their interactions in
English phonology. Let's summarize the main points:

1. [j]-Deletion and [j]-Morification

● [j]-Deletion (Rule 27): Deletes the [j] sound under certain conditions.
● [j]-Morification (Rule 31): Morphs [j] into another form under specific conditions, like when it's
stressed.
2. Palatalization (Rule 26)

● Turns coronal consonants into palatal sounds, particularly before high front vowels like [i].
3. Spirantization (Rule 34)

● Turns coronal stops into fricatives under certain conditions, notably before a high front vowel
like [i], and is influenced by syllable structure and stress.
4. [iu]-Formation

● Discusses the idiosyncrasy of the cluster [iu], where the [i] of [iu] isn't available in certain forms,
affecting the application of Spirantization.
5. Rule Orderings
The text presents an overall diagram of rule orderings:

scssCopy code
CiV-Lengthening (4) s-Voicing (2) Velar-Softening (17)
Spirantization (34) Vowel Shift (12) Diphthongization (10)
Palatalization (26) [iu]-Formation [j]-Morification (31) [j]-
Deletion (27)
Interactions and Ordering:
● Spirantization: Doesn't interact with Velar Softening but must follow s-Voicing.
● Palatalization: Fed by [iu]-Formation, Spirantization, and Velar Softening.

1. Vowel Shortening (Rule 37)

● Vowels shorten to maintain a maximum of two moras per foot.
2. CiV-Lengthening (Rule 4)
● Lengthens a vowel before a single consonant followed by another vowel.
3. Interaction of Vowel Shortening and CiV-Lengthening
● Vowel Shortening > CiV-Lengthening
● Vowel Shortening counterfeeds CiV-Lengthening.
4. Prevocalic Tensing (Rule 44)
 ● Short vowels become tense when they precede another vowel.
5. ATR Feature
● Lexical long non-low vowels are [+ATR] (tense).
● Lexical short vowels are in principle [-ATR] (lax).
6. Redundancy Rules
● Rule 41: Short vowels become [+ATR] when not before a consonant.
● Rule 42: Short vowels become [-ATR] when before a consonant.
7. Stressed Tense Vowel Lengthening (Rule 45)
● Lengthens stressed tense vowels that precede another vowel.
8. Vowel Shift and Diphthongization
● Vowel Shift requires length in the input vowel.
● Diphthongization occurs after Vowel Shift.
9. Word-Final Position Tensing
● English non-low vowels tend to tense in word-final positions.

Cyclic vs. Non-Cyclic Rules

● Cyclic Rules: These are phonological rules that can only apply after a preceding change within
the same cycle or domain.
● Non-Cyclic Rules: These rules can apply without the need for a preceding change within the
same cycle.

Principle of Strict Cyclicity

● This principle states that cyclic rules cannot apply to any input that has not undergone some
previous change in the same cycle.
● It restricts the application of cyclic rules to derived environments.

Rules and their Cyclicity Status

1. s-Voicing:
● Argument for Cyclic: s-Voicing obeys the Principle of Strict Cyclicity. Forms like "basin"
and "mason" which don't undergo s-Voicing within a morpheme are considered
exceptions.
 ● Counterargument: Some forms like "resist" show s-Voicing across morphemes,
challenging its cyclic nature.
● Resolution: Leaving the relevant s in stems like "resist" unspecified for [voice] in the
lexicon allows s-Voicing to apply without violating strict cyclicity. Hence, s-Voicing is
considered cyclic.
2. CiV-Lengthening:
● Argument for Cyclic: Since CiV-Lengthening feeds s-Voicing, it must also be cyclic.
● Supporting Evidence: No evidence against its cyclicity is known.
3. Vowel Shortening:
● Argument for Cyclic: It precedes CiV-Lengthening and is restricted to cyclic domains, as
seen in contrasts like "divinity" vs. "distinguish".
4. Velar Softening:
● Assumption: Most of the literature assumes it to be non-cyclic due to the absence of
previous changes in forms like "recede".
5. Spirantization:
● Argument for Non-Cyclic: It follows s-Voicing and precedes [iu]-Formation. Forms like
"vacation" and "habitual" are cited as evidence.
● Counterargument: Some forms, both derived and underived, do not undergo
Spirantization, suggesting its cyclic nature.
● Principle of Late Block Rule Assignment: In the absence of clear empirical evidence,
rules are assigned to the latest possible block. Spirantization is thus assumed to be non-
cyclic.
● Cyclic Block:
● Vowel Shortening (37)
● CiV-Lengthening (4)
● s-Voicing (2)
● All the remaining rules are considered non-cyclic.

The text essentially explores the organization and cyclicity of various phonological rules in
English, providing arguments and counterarguments for each rule's cyclic or non-cyclic status
based on empirical observations and principles of phonological theory.

The provided text continues the discussion on cyclic and non-cyclic phonological rules, focusing
 on non-cyclic rules in the English phonological system. Here's a summary of the main points and
arguments presented:

Non-Cyclic Rules and Their Orderings

1. Vowel Shift:
● Must follow Velar Softening.
● Can be fed by Prevocalic Tensing > Stressed Tense Vowel Lengthening.
● Counterbleeds Diphthongization.
● Conclusion: Vowel Shift is non-cyclic.
2. Prevocalic Tensing:
● Applies in defiance of the Principle of Strict Cyclicity.
● Conclusion: It is non-cyclic.
3. Stressed Tense Vowel Lengthening:
● Follows Prevocalic Tensing.
● Conclusion: It is non-cyclic.
4. Diphthongization:
● Follows Vowel Shift.
● Evidence suggests it applies within morphemes.
● Conclusion: It is non-cyclic.
5. Palatalization:
● Fed by [iu]-Formation.
● Followed by [j]-Deletion.
● Conclusion: It is non-cyclic.
● Can also be part of the postlexical block due to its applicability across words.
● Stratum Contiguity Hypothesis: Multiple block membership is constrained by the rule
that assigned strata must be contiguous.

Non-Cyclic Block Membership

The following list summarizes the non-cyclic rules and their orderings:

Non-cyclic Block:

● Velar Softening
● Spirantization
● Prevocalic Tensing
● [iu]-Formation
● Stressed Tense Vowel Lengthening
● Vowel Shift
● Diphthongization
● Palatalization
● [j]-Morification
● [j]-Deletion

Additional Postlexical Rules

Several segmental rules like Aspiration, Flapping, Glottalization, Sonorant Devoicing, and /-
Velarization are assumed to be postlexical. They possess characteristics typical of postlexical
rules such as not being structure-preserving, having no exceptions, applying in all types of
words, and not being word-bounded.

. Conclusion
• The model described in the book presents alternants that are related through rules,
These rules act either on the lexical form or on a representation derived from the lexical
form.
• Lexical forms are transformed into surface forms through a series of steps, each defined
by a rule, The sequence of these transformations is called a "derivation".
• The action of one rule on a representation can influence the applicability of another
rule, either by creating or destroying the required input for that rule. Rules can interact
with each other, and it is essential to order the rules correctly to achieve the desired
output.
• The chapter focuses on studying the mechanics of rule interaction and rule ordering.
The segmental rules of English are used as examples to demonstrate these concepts.
• Attention is given to evidence supporting the cyclic or non-cyclic nature of the rules. The
organization of rules into blocks based on their interaction is discussed closely.