The Phonology of English offers a new approach to English phonology. It focuses on the prosody of the language, i.e. syllable and foot structure, and does so from an optimality-theoretic (OT) perspective. The focus is on surface distributional regularities and the results presented are based on extensive searches through various computerized lexicons. The outcome is a number of new generalizations about the phonology of English, along with confirmation of some familiar regularities. All of these empirical results are discussed in detail and presented in extensive charts with a plethora of examples. The Phonology of English also offers a unique OT analysis. This provides a detailed introduction to the intricacies of the theory as applied to a significant amount of data. A number of important theoretical proposals are developed in this model, and the analysis presents the idea that certain complex constraints and their ranking can be derived in restricted ways from more basic constraints. In addition, the book also develops the idea that syllables of English can contain from zero to three moras. It is suggested that the phonology of English only makes sense if partial morphemes of the cranberry sort are licensed more widely. The book is thus intended as a detailed presentation of novel empirical results about the sound system of English, along with important theoretical results about phonological theory.

About the Author
Michael Hammond is Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona. He has also held the position of Assistant Professor at the universities of Arizona, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Minnesota.

Reviews
... a handy source source of reference for the phonotactics and stress patterns of General American. Journal of Linguistics, Cambridge University Press Volume 36 2000
This book presents a detailed analysis of the syllable structure and stress placement of English words, using Optimality Theory (OT) as the theoretical framework for the analysis. * David Detering, Linguistlist *
Hammond's book is written very clearly ... The book not only presents a comprehensive analysis of these complex isues, but it also provides a welcome overview of OT ... This book is certain to become an important work on English phonology, and I think everyone should read it. * David Detering, Linguistlist *
the impressive clarity with which Hammond has presented the phonology of English words within the OT framework is highly commendable. I highly recommend this book as exceptionally valuable for all students of phonology. * David Detering, Linguistlist *
This book offers a comprehensive account of English phonology based on distributional regularities as opposed to alternations. The book is remarkably systematic and thorough in its presentation of the patterning of the segmental sequences found in English syllables and of the patterns of English word stress. The book also offers interesting and intriguing analyses of these patterns couched within optimality theory, for which the author provides a clear introduction. * Stuart Davis, Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois *
English Phonology: A Prosodic Optimality-Theoretic Approach examines the fascinating topic of distributional patterns in the phonology of English, a language with a well-studied and complex phonology, framed within Optimality Theory. It will find an audience ranging from the student to the active researcher, and will define research directions in theoretical phonology and English phonology for some time to come. * Keren Rice, University of Toronto *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198700296
Author Michael Hammond
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 560g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 157mm * 20mm