| Abstract |
The aim of the study is to analyze the tonal patterns in Cantonese loanwords within the Optimality Theoretical framework. In loanword phonology, the issue of 'interlanguage rules' is reinterpreted within Optimality Theory, assuming that the different rankings of the universal constraints are the mechanism of adjustments in loanwords. In many languages a stressed unit would attract or interact with the high tone, so as in Cantonese loanwords. Within the Optimality Theory framework, the linguistic 'prominent unit', such as the stressed syllable, has to be respected faithfully, and the high tone is chosen to map through the constraints of the tonal hierarchy. The mapping of high tone and stress is shown such as: ‘card’, a monosyllable with H tone, ‘stick’, a disyllabic word with L-H. The syllables corresponding to the main stressed units of the source words, are respected to be the prominent head. And they would attract a high tone. The Prosodic Faithfulness constraints make reference to lexical and surface prominence and require related strings to match in this prominent structure. It is proposed that the ranking of the constraints FAITH-PPROM and TONAL-HIERARCHY gives the explanation of the relationship of tone and stress. |
