On Re-Ranking and Explanatory Adequacy in a Constraint-Based Theory of Phonological Change

Abstract

This chapter provides a critical examination of the notion of phonologicalconstraint fe-ranking as it relates to phonological change. For discussionand illustration, I use as case studies two instances of change inHistorical French, and propose a four-stage model that captures theincremental nature of change. The examination demonstrates the inadequacyof appeal to phonological constraint fe-ranking as explanation forchange. Since at least some instances of change have their originsin production-oriented phonetic innovations, an explanatory theoryof phonological change must address the nature of such innovationsand the knowledge underlying them. I show that cue preservation constraintsprovide a suitable fonnat for the expression of at least some innovations(those motivated by a functional principle relating to articulatoryetfort and constrained by factors relating to perceptual salience).