Optimality Ttheoretic analyses have addressed many issues previously identified in rule-based Derivational Theories. However, such evaluations encounter a significant challenge while rationalizing the opacity observed in certain phonological phenomena...
Optimality Ttheoretic analyses have addressed many issues previously identified in rule-based Derivational Theories. However, such evaluations encounter a significant challenge while rationalizing the opacity observed in certain phonological phenomena. In contrast, rule-based Derivational Theories can handle such opacity by reordering rules. As well-formed outputs determined by a constraint hierarchy can overcome the limitations inherent in rule-based outputs, partial modifications of constraint-based theories can yield a more comprehensive theoretical framework. Accordingly, this studiy analyze and explicate the opacity arises in specific Korean and Japanese phonological phenomena, namely, the tensing that persists even under syllable-final consonant cluster simplification in Korean, and the blocking of rendaku in the presence of a velar nasal in Japanese within a Harmonic Serialism framework.