Chapter published in:
Romance Languages and Linguistic Theory 16: Selected papers from the 47th Linguistic Symposium on Romance Languages (LSRL), Newark, Delaware
Edited by Irene Vogel
[Romance Languages and Linguistic Theory 16] 2020
► pp. 65–76

Geminates and vowel laxing in Quebec French

| Concordia University
| Concordia University

Laxing and harmony in Quebec French (QF) high vowels shows dialectal, register and perhaps even lexical variation. A recent proposal to handle some of the data (Poliquin 2006) contains a radical innovation to phonological theory concerning long-distance segment interactions. We question the necessity of such an account by pointing out that recognition of geminate sonorants in QF can explain some puzzling forms without recourse to new devices. Our account is supported by phonetic considerations, as well as by recognizing that the alternative both under and overgenerates lax vowels in surface forms.

Keywords: vowel harmony, French, Quebec French, phonology, laxing, syllable, geminate
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Basics of Quebec French +High vowels
  • 3.Three strikes against NLNIVH in illicite
    • 3.1‘Long-distance’ is not ‘non-local’
    • 3.2NLNIVH overgenerates and undergenerates
    • 3.3Geminates to the rescue
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgment
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 21 August 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/rllt.16.05cue
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