Assignment 1 Iwo Byrski In order to divide the words to morphemes, we have to establish the UR of our suffix.

The alternations in examples like [stipt] :t, and [stom] show that the suffix can be either -t or - . First, let us assume that the suffix is -t. It would clearly explain words such as [stipt] and [saft]. Nevertheless, in some cases we would need some rules to delete the /t/: skryvt skryv sto:mt st:om dva:st dva:sa loxt lox The context for the /t/ deletion rule would be as follows: t / v, m, s, x _ Those sounds do not form a natural class of sounds, therefore we cannot generalise our rule. The rule is incorrect, suffix -t is wrong.If the suffix -t is incorrect, it means that /t/ is either inserted into the suffix, or it belongs to the root morpheme. Just like in the case of deletion, an insertion cannot occur, as there is no generalisation for the rule, and we have examples exluding each other: [fast] and [dva:s], where the context for /t/ is s_, but no /t/ is inserted in [dva:s]. It means that /t/ belongs to the root morpheme. What follows is that we need a rule that erases /t/ from predicative in some contexts. There is a pattern for the /t/ occurence: [stipt+] [stip] p_# [saft+] [saf] [fast+] [fas] [ext+] [ex] f_# s_# x_# C[+obstr] / C[+obstr] _ # [fre:mt] is not a counter example, as /m/ is a sonorant. The rule applies word finally, so it doesn't affect /sk/ cluster in [skryf]. Let us call this rule Cluster Deletion. We have established that the suffix is -. It obvious to notice in words like [stom] [stom+], where there are no changes in the root. There are still some alternations we have to analyse: skryf skryv f:v fre:mt fre:md t:d [skryf] is our first example. If the reasoning is correct. Rule will apply to /fre:mt/ as well, because the type of change in the alternation is similar (voicing). The UR can be either /skryf/ or /skryv/. First, let's take /skryf/ as the UR. We need a rule that changes /f/ into /v/ in some context. The rule states: f v /_; following this pattern we'd also state: t d /_ (because of [fre:mt]). We can generalise it to: C [-voiced] C [+voiced] /_ . The rule is not correct, because we have counter examples like [dva:s], which would be [dv:az]. It means we have to assume our UR is /skryv/. We need a rule that devoices /v/ in some context. v f /_# /skryv/ [skryf] /fre:md/ [fre:mt] We can generalise the rule to: C[+obstr][+voiced] C[-voiced] / _# The rule will be called Final Devoicing. The only words left are [fax], [fa], [far].Let's compare them with [lox], [lox], [loxr] as their predicative seems to be similar. [fax] [fa] [lox] [lox] Consonant _ # [+obstruent]

In [fax] there is no /x/ in the attributive. We can assume that the /x/ is inserted in the predicative, stating that the UR is /fa/. It's impossible, because [fa] would be a possible word in Afrikaans. Therefore, we cannot make [fax] out of /fa/. What follows is that the form /fax/ seems to be correct. Still, it doesn't behave like [lox]. We can assume that in the predicative there is a different consonant, which is later deleted. As we already established, in Afrikaans a rule of final devoicing occurs. If we assume that /fax/ is the outcome of this rule, it's UR is /fa/. x /_# It seems to be correct, as there is no counter examples. Then, we have to establish a rule that would create [fa] out of /fa+/. / V_ The rule is incorrect, as we have a counter example as (it would be [as]). / _V fa+ fa+ It's correct. Let's call the rule Gamma Deletion. All rules occuring in the data set have been established. Now the division into morphemes is possible.
[stip] [skryf] [saf] [stom] [dva:s] [fas] [fre:mt] [lox] [fax] [ex] [stipt+] [skryv+] [saft+] [stom+] [dva:s+] [fas+] [fre:md+] [lox+] [fa+] [ext+] [stipt+r] [skryv+] [saft+r] [stom+r] [dva:s+r] [fas+r] [fre:md+r] [lox+r] [fa+r] [ext+r]

Derivations of [lox] [lox] and [fax] [fa]

//lox// /lox/ /lox/ /lox/ [lox] //fa// /fa/ /fax/ /fax/ [fax] UR Cluster Deletion Final Devoicing Gamma Deletion SR UR Cluster Deletion Final Devoicing Gamma Deletion SR //lox+// /lox/ /lox/ /lox/ [lox] //fa+// /fa/ /fa/ /fa/ [fa] UR Cluster Deletion Final Devoicing Gamma Deletion SR UR Cluster Deletion Final Devoicing Gamma Deletion SR

The rules need to be in a certain order. The rule of Cluster Deletion is not affected by the remaining two, but Final Devoicing and Gamma Deletion have context that is excluding each other. If one is applied, the other cannot. Therefore, the rule of Devoicing must go first, as the context for Deletion is not being at the end of a word.