Cover not available
Article In:
International Journal of Chinese Linguistics
Vol. 11:2 (2024) ► pp.169–191

The unmarked fixed segmentism in Chinese reduplication

Case for base-reduplicant correspondence

| Tianjin Normal University
Reduplication often involves fixed segmentism, which includes invariant segments, tones, or features that are not copied from the base. This paper focuses on phonologically unmarked fixed segmentism in the Chinese language and argues for base-reduplicant correspondence in reduplication. We examine three types of fixed segmentism, including the onset /l/, the nucleus /i/ or /ə/, and the coda /ʔ/ or /ŋ/. After surveying the data, we argue that these segments have a phonological basis falling under the Optimality Theory (OT) rubric of the emergence of the unmarked (TETU). We argue that while fixed segmentism of this phonological type poses challenges to OT analyses, such as Morphological Doubling Theory (MDT), which do not acknowledge the distinction between the base and the reduplicant and their correspondence, it can be accounted for within correspondence theory, given that the base and reduplicant have an asymmetrical phonological relation to the input.
Keywords: reduplication, fixed segmentism, optimality theory, base-reduplicant correspondence, morphological doubling theory
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Data on the unmarked fixed segmentism
    • 2.1Onset /l/
    • 2.2Nucleus /i/ or /ə/
    • 2.3Coda /ʔ/ or /ŋ/
    • 2.4L-insertion words
  • 3.The choice of phonologically unmarked segments
  • 4.Issues raised about Yip’s (2001) analysis
  • 5.Challenges to MDT approach
  • 6.Analysis of the unmarked fixed segmentism in correspondence theory
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
References (31)
References
Alderete, J., Beckman, J., Bentua, L., Gnanadesikan, A., McCarthy, J. & Urbanczyk, S. (1999). Reduplication with fixed segmentism. Linguistic Inquiry 301,327–364. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Chen, Yachuan, & Zheng, Yide 陈亚川、郑懿德. (1990). Fuzhouhua xingrongci chongdieshi de yinbian fangshi ji leixing 福州话形容词重叠式的音变方式及其类型 [Soun Changes and Their Types in Fuzhou Adjective Reduplication]. Zhongguo Yuwen 中国语文 [Studies of the Chinese Language], No.5, 362–370.Google Scholar
Clements, G. N. (1985). The geometry of phonological features. Phonology Yearbook 21, 223–252. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Haugen, J. & Kennard, C. H. (2011). Base-dependence in reduplication. Morphology 211,1–29. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Inkelas, S., & Zoll, C. (2005). Reduplication: Doubling in morphology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kennedy, R. (2008). Bugotu and Cheke Holo reduplication: In defense of the Emergence of the Unmarked. Phonology, 251, 61–82. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Lass, R. (1976). English Phonology and Phonological Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Marantz, A. (1982). Re reduplication. Linguistic Inquiry 131, 435–82.Google Scholar
McCarthy, John J. (1988). Feature geometry and dependency: A review. Phonetica 451, 84–108. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
McCarthy, J., Kimper, W., & Mullin, K. (2012). Reduplication in harmonic serialism. Morphology, 221, 173–232. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
McCarthy, J., & Prince, A. (1986). Prosodic morphology. Ms, University of Massachusetts — Amherst and Rutgers University.Google Scholar
(1994). The emergence of the unmarked: Optimality in prosodic morphology. In M. Gonza`lez (Ed.), Proceedings of the North East Linguistics Society 241 (pp.333–379). Amherst,MA: GLSAGoogle Scholar
(1995). Faithfulness and reduplicative identity. In J. Beckman, L. Walsh, & S. Urbanczyk (Eds.) University of Massachusetts Occasional Papers in Linguistics; 181 (pp. 53–75). Amherst, MA: Graduate Linguistics Student Association.Google Scholar
(1999). Faithfulness and identity in prosodic morphology. In R. Kager, H.van der Hulst & W. Zonneveld (Eds.), The prosody-morphology interface (pp.218–309). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Prince, A., & Smolensky, P. (1993). Optimality theory: Constraint interaction in generative Grammar. Ms., Rutgers University and University of Colorado at Boulder.Google Scholar
Pulleyblank, Douglas. (1988). Vocalic underspecification in Yoruba. Linguistic Inquiry (19), 233–270.Google Scholar
Qiao, Quansheng, & Wang Xiaoting 乔全生、王晓婷. (2013) .Qingxu fangyan liangzizu chongdieshi de bianyue xianxiang 清徐方言两字组重叠式的变韵现象 [Rime Change in Disyllabic Reduplication in Qingxu Dialect]. Jinzhong Xueyuan Xuebao 晋中学院学报 [Journal of Jinzhong University], No.2, 90-92+114.Google Scholar
Ran, Qibin 冉启斌. (2012). Lun hanyu nishengci Zhong de bianyi 论汉语拟声词中的边音 [Lateral sounds in Chinese Onomatopoeias]. Dangdai Yuyanxue 当代语言学[Contemporary Linguistics], No. 4, 354–364.Google Scholar
Saba, Kirchner J. (2010). Minimal reduplication. PhD Dissertation, University of California at Santa Cruz.
Sagey, E. C. (1986). The representation of features and relations in non-linear phonology. PhD Dissertation, MIT, Cambridge, MA.
Steriade, D. (1987). Locality conditions and feature geometry. In Papers of NELS 171 (pp. 595–617). Amherst, MA: GLSA.Google Scholar
(1995). Underspecification and markedness. In J. Goldsmith (Ed). The Handbook of Phonological Theory. (pp,114–174). Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Trigo, L. R. (1988). On the Phonological Derivation and Behavior of Nasal Glides. PhD Dissertation, MIT.
Wang, Hongjun 王洪君. (1994). Hanyu changyong de liangzhong yuyin goucifa — cong pingding erhua he taiyuan qian-l-ci tanqi 汉语常用的两种语音构词法——从平定儿化和太 原嵌l 词谈起 [The Two Kinds of Frequently-used Phonetic Word Formation Strategy — from Er Rime Alternation in Pingding Dialect and l-inserted Words in Taiyuan Dialect]. Yuyan Yanjiu 语言研究 [Studies in Language and Linguistics], No.1, 65–78.Google Scholar
Xiang, Mengbing 项梦冰. (1998). Liancheng fangyan de dongci chongdie [Verbal Reduplication in Liancheng Dialect]. Yuyanxue Luncong 语言学论丛 [Essays on Linguistics], No.21, 12–32.Google Scholar
Yang, Y. F. (2023). Rapa Nui: A Case for Correspondence in Reduplication. Linguistic inquiry, 45(2), 395–412. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Yip, M. (2001). Segmental Unmarkedness Versus Input Preservation in Reduplication. In L. Lombardi (Ed.), Segmental phonology in optimality theory: constraints and representations (pp. 206–228). Cambridge UP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Zhang, Shengyu 张盛裕. (1979). Chaoyang fangyan de chongdieshi 潮阳方言的重叠式 [Reduplication in Chaoyang Dialect]. Zhongguo Yuwen 中国语文 [Studies of the Chinese Language], No.2, 106–114.Google Scholar
. (1981). Chaoyang fangyan de yuyin xitong 潮阳方言的语音系统 [The Sound reduplication of ChaoYang Dialect]. Fangyan 方言 [Dialect], No.1, 27–39.Google Scholar
. (1982). Chaoyang fangyan xiangshengzi chongdies 潮阳方言的象声字重叠式 [The Onomatopoetic Reduplication in ChaoYang Dialect]. Fangyan 方言 [Dialect], No.3, 181–182Google Scholar
Zhu, Dexi 朱德熙. (1982). Chaoyanghua he bijinghua chongdieshi de xiangshengci de gouzao 潮阳话和北京话重叠式象声词的构造 [Structure of Reduplicative Onomatopoeia in Chaoyang and Beijing]. Fangyan 方言 [Dialect], No.3, 174–180.Google Scholar