Feature geometry and palatalization

Abstract

The paper examines palatalization data from English, Polish and Croatian in the framework of Feature Geometry. It is shown that palatalization in the discussed data results in a number of phonologically diverse outputs, which cannot be accounted for by using one unique palatalization feature. Instead it is argued that palatalization can be represented by the spreading of either of two independent place specifications of the vowel, or of their combination. This approach implies a threefold typology of palatalization processes.