Open AccessPhonological change and grammaticalization in HPSG: The case of French final consonants
Author(s) -
Jesse Tseng
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
proceedings of the international conference on head-driven phrase structure grammar
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1535-1793
DOI - 10.21248/hpsg.2009.17
Subject(s) - grammaticalization , linguistics , head driven phrase structure grammar , context (archaeology) , pronunciation , sound change , history , consonant , computer science , grammar , philosophy , vowel , archaeology
This paper explores the use of HPSG for modeling historical phonological change andgrammaticalization, focusing on the evolution of the pronunciation of word-final consonants inModern French. The diachronic evidence is presented in detail, and interpreted as two maintransitions, first from Old French to Middle French, then from Middle French to the modernlanguage. The data show how the loss of final consonants, originally a phonological development inMiddle French, gave rise to the grammaticalized external sandhi phenomenon known as consonantliaison in modern French. The stages of development are analyzed formally as a succession of HPSGlexical schemas in which phonological representations are determined by reference to the immediatelyfollowing phonological context.