L712 Seminar: Diachronic Phonology
T. A. Hall

(Cross-listed with G835 Seminar in Germanic Linguistics:
Historical Phonology)

This seminar will explore a number of well-known sound changes
(primarily in Germanic), including (but not limited to) Grimm’s Law,
Verner’s Law, West Germanic Gemination, the High German Consonant
Shift, and Umlaut in Old High German. A number of linguists have
applied formal models of phonology to these sound shifts, e.g.
feature geometry, syllable and moraic theory, preference laws,
optimality theory. The goal of the course is to critically examine
this recent literature. The course presupposes some background in
phonology, including optimality theory. Each student will be
required to present and lead the discussion on one article or book
chapter and to write a research paper. The paper can either offer a
re-analysis of one of the sound changes discussed in the course, or
it can offer a new analysis of a sound change not discussed. The
topic of the paper need not be restricted to Germanic. The course
does not assume knowledge of German.