For the first time in over thirty years a revolution is happening in phonology, with the advent of constraint-based approaches which directly oppose the rule-and-derivation tradition of mainstream Generative Phonology. The success of Optimality Theory and the rapidity of its spread since its official launch in 1993 is remarkable even by the general standards of post-1950s linguistics. Many phonologists appear to have been caught up in the whirlwind, as witnessed by the substance of many current working papers and conferences the world over, and the recent contents of well-established journals. Two questions naturally arise: What is Optimality Theory about? In what way is Optimality Theory superior to traditional theory, if indeed it is? In this book, leading specialists and active researchers address these issues directly, and focus deliberately on the evaluation of the two competing approaches rather than on simple displays of their applicability to limited bodies of data.

The first edition of this major introduction to linguistics rapidly established itself as an important student textbook, and a reference tool for those who already have some acquaintance with linguistics. This second edition has been updated and revised and includes new chapters on syntax and on current developments in generative grammar, as well as new material on the nature of language and on morphology. This book first provides a comprehensive critical review of the analytic tools and theories of linguistics and systematically surveys major concepts in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Having established the basic nature and structure of language, the final part of the book engages some of the wider issues concerning the use of language in speaking and understanding (psycholinguistics), language development in children, social aspects of language (sociolinguistics), and historical language choice.

"Generative Phonology" offers an overview of the post-SPE theory of generative phonology and is suitable for linguists not specializing in phonology, who want to keep abreast of the latest developments in the subject. It deals with all the major trends in what has come to be known as "non-linear" phonology, including: particle phonology; dependancy phonology; government and charm phonology. Iggy Roca guides the reader through the developments of the various approaches, justifying their rationale against the background of SPE machinery, and providing the reader with the basic tools necessary to penetrate current problems and debates. This text aims to integrate the modules and proposals of what can seem a fragmentary field, into a cohesive body of living theory.

The first edition of this major introduction to linguistics rapidly established itself as an important student textbook, and a reference tool for those who already have some acquaintance with linguistics. This second edition has been updated and revised and includes new chapters on syntax and on current developments in generative grammar, as well as new material on the nature of language and on morphology. This book first provides a comprehensive critical review of the analytic tools and theories of linguistics and systematically surveys major concepts in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Having established the basic nature and structure of language, the final part of the book engages some of the wider issues concerning the use of language in speaking and understanding (psycholinguistics), language development in children, social aspects of language (sociolinguistics), and historical language choice.

"Generative Phonology" offers an overview of the post-SPE theory of generative phonology and is suitable for linguists not specializing in phonology, who want to keep abreast of the latest developments in the subject. It deals with all the major trends in what has come to be known as "non-linear" phonology, including: particle phonology; dependancy phonology; government and charm phonology. Iggy Roca guides the reader through the developments of the various approaches, justifying their rationale against the background of SPE machinery, and providing the reader with the basic tools necessary to penetrate current problems and debates. This text aims to integrate the modules and proposals of what can seem a fragmentary field, into a cohesive body of living theory.

Since the 1960s phonological theory has countenanced two levels of representation underlying and surface form linked by a multi-staged derivation. This model is now being challenged by approaches, such as Optimality Theory, which substitute surface constraints for rules and derivations. If accepted, this shift would amount to a major revolution in the field. In this volume, a team of leading specialists addresses the issue, specifically focusing on the comparison and evaluation of the two alternatives.