Stress patterns in English roots – Dictionary data within a French phonological framework

Trier University, C429

Abstract:

How is stress assigned in English morphologically simplex words? How do we explain, for example, that words such as begín, emít and rètrogréss are stressed on the finale syllable, whereas words such as lísten, vómit and gállivant are stressed on the initial syllable? Despite the existence of a vast literature, and an agreement amongst most scholars that English stress is not idiosyncratic (but rather explained by systemic regularities), the existing theoretical accounts are often not based on large corpora and leave large portions of the data unexplained.

In this talk I will explain how, in the context of a joint project, we will study stress patterns using a large dictionary corpus sorted manually. The part of the project described will take place within a French phonological framework, following the tradition of late researcher Lionel Guierre. After describing the dictionary data, I will summarise the characteristics of Guierre’s framework. Finally, I will briefly introduce the ideas which emerged among the “Guierrian researchers” and led to the ongoing project.

Marie Gabillet – 1^st year PhD student in English Linguistics

Stress patterns in English roots – Dictionary data within a French phonological framework

Trier University, C429

Abstract:

How is stress assigned in English morphologically simplex words? How do we explain, for example, that words such as begín, emít and rètrogréss are stressed on the finale syllable, whereas words such as lísten, vómit and gállivant are stressed on the initial syllable? Despite the existence of a vast literature, and an agreement amongst most scholars that English stress is not idiosyncratic (but rather explained by systemic regularities), the existing theoretical accounts are often not based on large corpora and leave large portions of the data unexplained.

In this talk I will explain how, in the context of a joint project, we will study stress patterns using a large dictionary corpus sorted manually. The part of the project described will take place within a French phonological framework, following the tradition of late researcher Lionel Guierre. After describing the dictionary data, I will summarise the characteristics of Guierre’s framework. Finally, I will briefly introduce the ideas which emerged among the “Guierrian researchers” and led to the ongoing project.

Marie Gabillet – 1^st year PhD student in English Linguistics