On the role of empty onsets in Turkish: a government phonology approach

Abstract

This study investigates the distribution of empty onsets [Ox-O] in careful and casual speech of Turkish in the framework of (Standard) Government Phonology (GP). It is proposed that the occurrence of a certain type of an empty onset determined by the speech rate/style allows for a number of optional phonological processes such as liaison, vowel coalescence (within and across domains), vowel assimilation and glide insertion to take place in Turkish. The present thesis also critically evaluates the previous analyses proposed to identify the nature of the "Soft G" in Turkish. The environments where the "Soft G" is observed in the orthography are considered to signify, often but not always, empty onset(s) in the structure of GP. It is claimed that there is no one-to-one correspondence relation between an empty onset O(x) and <ğ> and that "Soft G" is not a reliable cue in determining phonological objects. Finally, this thesis examines the structure of dağ type and ayak type words. The type of an empty onset in these forms is determined and their behavior in vowel initial suffixation is reanalyzed. Given that GP allows only for a minimal interaction between phonology and morphology and referring to the core principles of the theory such as Principle of Non-Arbitrariness, it is argued that dağ type behavior and k~ø alternation should not be treated within the domain of phonology, counter to previous analyses.