Language Research

An Optimality-Theoretic Account of Phonology-Semantics Interaction in Persian

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Bashir Jam

Assistant Professor, Department of English, Shahrekord University

https://doi.org/10.22059/jolr.2018.69529
Abstract
The relationship between semantics and phonology is generally denied (Archangeli & Pulleyblank, 1994: 5, 433). That is, semantic and phonological changes usually apply independently. Phonological processes of Persian which convert a phonemic representation to its phonetic representation mostly do not involve any meaning changes. However, there are few idiosyncratic words in Persian whose phonetic representations which are used in the colloquial style differ in meaning from their phonemic representations.Various types of semantic changes including extensionand restriction of meaning or both, in addition to pragmatic changes occur in these words. In some cases the meaning changes accompany a change in spelling too. This research addresses phonology-semantics interaction using “lexical-access constraints” (Boersma, 2001), in optimality theory as the sole theory to make the analysis of phonology-semantics interaction to some extent possible. Furthermore, some of these interactions occur to save energy and to make less muscular effort. This is usually discussed in functional rather than formal approaches. Following Kirchner (1989) this research integrates functionalism and formalism in optimality theory to deal with this issue.

Keywords

phonology-semantics interaction
phonetic changes
semantic changes
lexical-access constraints
style shifting
Aghagolzadeh, F. & H. Davari, 2007. Words appearing to be coined; yet original. Research in Persian Language & Literature. 10, 159–177 .[In Persian].
Jam, B. (To be published). Lexical and Post-lexical Stress Oppositions in Persian. Language Related Research [In Persian].
Jam, B. 2009. Optimality theory and its application in explainingphonological  processes of Persian. Unpublished  Doctoral  dissertation. Tehran: Tarbiat Modarres University [In Persian].
  Jam, B. 2016a. An optimality- theoretic account of exceptionality &optionality in pre-nasal raising. Journal of Language Research. 2, 19–38. [In Persian].     
Jam, B. 2016b. A Dictionary of Phonological Processes. Tehran: IranUniversity Press [In Persian].
 Safavi, K. 2000. Anintroduction to semantics. Tehran: Islamic Culture and        Art Research Institute. [In Persian].
 Shaghaghi, V. 2008. An Introduction to Morphology. Tehran: SAMT. [In Persian].  
Language Research
Volume 9, Issue 2
January 2019
Pages 67-87

  • Receive Date 14 February 2018
  • Revise Date 19 April 2018
  • Accept Date 01 July 2018

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