First published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This dissertation makes an important contribution to Correspondence Theory, set within Optimality Theory. By introducing the notion 'existential faithfulness,' Struijke is able to draw a strong connection between three phenomena usually thought to be unrelated, namely the emergence of the unmarked in reduplication, dissimilation and feature movement. The author argues that all are ways to improve the markedness of a form, while simultaneously ensuring the preservation of underlying material.
The book presents three in-depth case studies involving Kwakwala, Sanskrit and Cuzco Quechua, which reveal some striking properties of the phenomena under investigation.