Palatalization processes in Kashubian from the perspective of Lexical Phonology and Optimality Theory Justyna Kosecka Praca doktorska wykonana w Instytucie Anglistyki Wydziału Neofilologii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego pod kierunkiem prof. zw. dr. hab. Jerzego Rubacha Warszawa 2020 Palatalization processes in Kashubian from the perspective of Lexical Phonology and Optimality Theory Justyna Kosecka A dissertation submitted to the Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics Thesis supervisor: Professor Jerzy Rubach Warszawa 2020 Preface This dissertation examines palatalization processes of the North-Slavic language, Kashubian, spoken in East Pomerania, in Northern Poland. The investigation of the processes is framed in the theoretical context of three generative phonological theories: Lexical Phonology, Optimality Theory, and Derivational Optimality Theory. The primary goal of this dissertation is to test the operation of the theoretical frameworks on the material from Kashubian. The dissertation also aims at analysing palatalization processes active in Kashubian, especially those applying to coronals and velars. The third aim of this dissertation is to take part in the long-standing debate on the status of the vowel [ɨ] in Slavic languages, namely, whether [ɨ] is an allophone of /i/ or whether it constitutes a separate phoneme. This dissertation is organised as follows. Chapter 1 presents the goals of the dissertation and gives a general introduction to the frameworks of Lexical Phonology and Optimality Theory, to be used throughout the dissertation. Chapter 2 provides the basic facts regarding the Kashubian consonants and vowels that are relevant from the point of view of the dissertation. The chapter reviews the state of investigation on the vowel representations. The discussed analyses focus on central dialects of Kashubian. The final section of the chapter provides a reanalysis of Jocz’s (2013) vowel system and its adaptation to a vowel chart of the present-day Kashubian vowels spoken in central Kashubia. Chapter 3 presents an outline of phonological approaches to //ɨ// in Slavic languages. The outline provides a historical perspective on the phonemic status of the vowel [ɨ] and the arguments of contemporary phonologists for and against treating [ɨ] as an independent phoneme, with the Rydzewski’s (2016, 2017) analysis of a single-phoneme approach as the latest contribution to the debate. The final section transfers to Kashubian the arguments regarding the status of //ɨ// in Slavic languages. 2 Chapter 4 addresses the issue of palatalization processes in the class of coronals. The rule of Coronal Palatalization has been chosen as the starting point. The theory of Lexical Phonology serves as the framework for the analysis. The initial sections provide basic generalizations and, by drawing a parallel with Labial Palatalization and Velar Palatalization, state that the presented generalizations are instances of Coronal Palatalization, whose outputs are opaque in Kashubian. The opacity consists in the fact that the outputs of the rule are hard, i.e. [+back] coronals, whereas the process itself is a softening one, i.e. deriving [−back] outputs. This phenomenon proves to be an instance of the Duke of York gambit, under which the hard input is turned into a soft intermediate segment, only to be turned into a hard segment on the surface. The subsequent sections discuss the interaction between Coronal Palatalization and Velar Palatalization as well as other rules, including Vowel Fronting, Velar Softening and Hardening. The chapter proposes underlying representations for the masculine and feminine adjectives. Three possible scenarios for the shape of the masculine adjectival ending are explored: //i//, //i// and //ɨ// allomorphs, and //ɨ// with masculine and feminine endings entering the derivation at different levels. Next, an attempt is made at analysing denominal adjectives, taking the established facts into account. Chapter 5 analyses the same palatalization processes but this time in the framework of Optimality Theory. The initial sections present basic generalizations and introduce the mechanics of palatalization in Optimality Theory, i.e. present the constraints playing a role in evaluating instances of palatalization. Next, palatalization processes triggered by //i//, and then triggered by //ɛ// are analysed. The analysis begins with velar inputs and immediately runs into difficulty because classic Optimality Theory, even with the auxiliary theories, is unable to account for opacity. The data call for adopting a different framework, which leads to the adoption of Derivational Optimality Theory, a modification of the classic OT allowing for level distinction. The basic concepts of the Derivational Optimality Theory are presented in 3 the following section of this chapter. Next, the processes are successfully reanalysed in the proposed framework. The second part of Chapter 5 deals with palatalization processes affecting coronals in a manner parallel to the analysis of palatalization processes affecting velars. Derivational Optimality Theory allows for a successful account of the analysed data. Chapter 6 summarizes the discussion and provides conclusions. 4 Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to express my utmost appreciation for Professor Jerzy Rubach for his excellent guidance and invaluable assistance. I am particularly grateful for showing me the logic of phonology and for turning my head to the treasure of Slavic languages and the beauty of Kashubian, throughout my MA and then graduate studies. Had it not been for his encouragement and support, this dissertation would still have been incomplete. My deepest gratitude goes also to my parents, Barbara and Ryszard Wenta. Thank you for showing me my heritage and teaching how to be proud of it. Thank you for your unconditional love and faith in me. And finally, thank you for lending me Kashubian dictionaries and cooking dinners, so that I could focus on my work. I would also like to thank my husband, Konrad Kosecki. Thank you for standing by me in good and not so good moments. Thank you for not doubting in me when I myself doubted. Thank you for your help during writing this thesis and coping with the house and children logistics when I most needed it. My thanks is also due to Joanna Zaleska who, especially in the last few years, has not let me lose my sense of purpose and has always encouraged and supported me in pursuing this thesis. I admire your intellectual charisma, the willingness to share your knowledge as well as ability to explain most complicated issues in the simplest way. I will always remember your help and giving answers or providing a direction to all of my phonological (and not only phonological) questions. Thanks go to my employers, Iga Fischer and Dariusz Obrępalski, who understood the need of my finishing this project and let me stay in the office after hours to work on my dissertation. 5 Last but not least, I am deeply indebted to my informants from Załakowo: Sylwia Mielewczyk, Zofia Wenta, Mirosław Lejk, and Janusz Wenta. Thank you for your patience and providing answers to all of my questions. 6 Symbols and Abbreviations acc. – accusative adj. – adjective adv. – adverb AJK – Atlas of the Kashubian Language aug. – augmentative C – consonant dat. – dative dim. – diminutive DOT – Derivational Optimality Theory fem. – feminine gen. – genitive inf. – infinitive instr. – instrumental loc. – locative LP – Lexical Phonology masc. – masculine neut. – neuter nom. – nominative OT – Optimality Theory pej. – pejorative pers. – personalizing pl. – plural SCC – Strict Cyclicity Constraint SR – surface representation 7 sg. – singular UR – underlying representation V – vowel verb. – verbalizing voc. – vocative WFR – word formation rule * – incorrect form * – in a tableau: constraint violation / / – intermediate representation // // – underlying representation, input [ ] – surface representation ‘ ’ – glosses ’ – palatalization + – morpheme boundary # – word boundary >> – ranked higher than ! – fatal violation ☞ – winning candidate ☜ – undesired winning candidate ☹ – elimination of the desired candidate → – “becomes” ⸧ – includes 8 to my parents and to Konrad, Alek, and Jerzyk Table of contents Preface Acknowledgements Symbols and Abbreviations Chapter 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 14 1.1. Goals of the dissertation ............................................................................................. 14 1.2. Lexical Phonology ..................................................................................................... 14 1.3. Optimality Theory ...................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2 Kashubian Surface Inventory: Descriptive Account ....................................... 19 2.1. Kashubian ................................................................................................................... 19 2.2. Consonant inventory .................................................................................................. 20 2.3. Vowel inventory: state of investigation ..................................................................... 21 2.3.1. The Atlas of Kashubian Language: description based on extensive fieldwork..... 22 2.3.2. Topolińska: a historical perspective