L712:  Seminar in Phonology (Topic:  Syllable Quantity)
Instructor:  Professor Stuart Davis
Day and Time:  Wednesday 4:00-6:15pm

Description:  This seminar will explore in detail the issue of
syllable quantity or weight.  Many languages divide syllables into
two types:  light syllables (typically those ending in a short
vowel) and heavy syllables (typically those ending in a long
vowel, diphthong, or consonant).  In such languages, various
processes such as those related to stress and tone are sensitive to
this weight distinction (e.g. the assignment of stress).  There are
many issues that arise with respect to syllable weight that will
be explored in the seminar beyond the basic issue of how syllable
weight should be represented formally.  These include among other
topics types of weight systems found in languages, the issue of
degrees of syllable weight, whether syllable onsets can ever be a
factor in weight systems, the status of geminate consonant in weight
systems, variable weight (i.e. the same syllable type being either
light or heavy depending on the context within the word), and the
phonetics/perception of syllable weight.  Students will be
required to present various readings and write a term paper.  The
topic of the term paper will be determined in consultation with the
instructor but this could include investigating one of the above
issues cross-linguistically or examining syllable weight in one
specific language.

(Note: Some familiarity with Optimality Theory will be assumed.  For
those interested but without backgound in OT, the seminar can be
taken if it is taken concurrently with L642.)

For more information about the seminar please contact the instructor
at:davis@indiana.edu