The error-driven ranking model of the acquisition of phonotactics: How to keep the faithfulness constraints at bay

Abstract

A problem which arises in the theory of the error-driven ranking model of the acquisition of phonotactics is that the faithfulness constraints need to be promoted but should not be promoted too high. This paper motivates this technical problem and shows how to tune the promotion component of the re-ranking rule so as to keep the faithfulness constraints at bay. Sections 1-2 introduce the algorithmic framework considered in the paper, namely the error-driven ranking model of the acquisition of phonotactics. Section 3 motivates a specific problem which arises in the design and analysis of this model, namely the problem of controlling the height reached by the faithfulness (F) constraints. Sections 4-6 sketch the theory of F-controlling. Magri (2014a) presents the theory in more detail.