The Initial Ranking of Faithfulness Constraints in UG

Abstract

This paper shows that, contrary to popular opinion, it is a necessary assumption of the theory of the acquisition of OT phonological systems that faithfulness constraints be ranked above well-formedness constraints in UG. "The obvious is literally that which stands in one's way..." R. D. Laing (cited in Barton 1978:122) I. What is Phonological Acquisition? There are two assumptions which we will make in attempting to formulate an answer to this question. While we do not feel that either assumption is particularly controversial, we will spell them out before proceeding. The first is simply that the type of OT Phonology we as linguists are interested in is a subcomponent of the grammar --- with all of the normal implications of the use of that term in modern linguistics. In particular, we will assume that it is necessary, indeed, critical, to distinguish between the grammar, which is a computational system operating upon and generating mental representations, and a production syste...