The inputs in 22 and 23 show a coronal or a velar consonant respectively followed by a palatal glide. In both cases, the faithful candidates a fatally violate an OCP constraint, while candidates b
violate UNIF-IO, but preserve the OCP. Candidates b are correct with the language facts, thus supporting the ranking in 20.
5.2.4 Deletion versus coalescence
The discussion thus far has set up two mutually exclusive constraint conflicts where OCP is ranked relative to MAX-w and UNIF-IO. However, why are the opposite scenarios not possible where
contiguous bilabials might be coalesced or a palatal glide deleted? The answer must be that MAX-w is ranked below UNIF-IO, so that if the input contains w, it will delete. Otherwise, coalescence is the
best choice. Adjusting the ranking of MAX-w and UNIF-IO alone will not account for deletion of w and
coalescence of j. Example 24 illustrates the two possibilities. 24
Two ranking possibilities for faithfulness a. OCP MAX-wUNIF-IO
b. OCPUNIF-IO MAX-w If 24a is assumed, the correct candidate 25a will not win.
25 MAX-wUNIF-IO
Input: pwǽ OCP MAX-w UNIF-IO a.
pwæ b.
pǽ c.
☹
☞ pʷǽ
The reason for the failure of deletion 25a to win is because the constraint ranking is such that coalescence, via a violation of UNIF-IO, is a less expensive way to preserve the OCP. That is, 24a says
that if there is a choice between coalescence or w deletion, choose the former. Now, let us reverse the ranking in 26 to correspond with 23b.
26 UNIF-IO MAX-w
Input: pwǽ OCP UNIF-IO MAX-w a.
pwǽ b.☞
pǽ c.
pʷǽ As expected, w deletion is now preferred to coalescence, which gives us the correct surface form.
Regarding palatalization with non-labials, we see that the ranking in 23b will predict a post- alveolar affricate in 27, which is the correct form.
27 UNIF-IO MAX-w
Input: k’əkjə̌t OCP UNIF-IO MAX-w a.
k’əkjə̌t b.☞
k’ət͡ʃə̌t Likewise, if we reverse the ranking such as 23a the correct form will still surface.
28 MAX-w UNIF-IO
Input: k’əkjə̌t OCP MAX-w UNIF-IO a.
k’əkjə̌t b.☞
k’ət͡ʃə̌t In other words, with the constraint MAX-w only at risk in the case of a w on a consonant cluster,
we need only to keep MAX-w ranked below UNIF-IO in order to avoid choosing a coalesced labial consonant as the winner. The final ranking is giving below.
29 Final ranking of faithfulness on onsets.
OCPUNIF-IOMAX-w
5.3 Nuclei
