Abstract :
Phonetically based phonology is a collection of eleven papers examining the role of phonetic factors in shaping phonological patterns. The contributions cover a range of topics, examining the phonetics and phonology of place assimilation and dissimilation, consonant lenition, metathesis, vowel harmony, vowel reduction, syllable weight and distribution of contour tones, as well as dispersion and neutralisation of phonological contrasts. The empirical focus of the volume is on cross-linguistic similarities and differences – ‘universal’ phonological patterns, although some individual languages also receive a detailed treatment (e.g. Florentine Italian in the paper by Kirchner). Theoretically, most of the papers are couched in the framework of functionalist or ‘phonetically driven’ Optimality Theory, usefully summarised in Hayes & Steriade’s introduction. In this sense, the volume is also a tribute to this influential framework developed at UCLA, as seven out of the eleven papers are originally based on UCLA phonology dissertations : Flemming (1995), Jun (1995), Kaun (1995), Kirchner (1998), Crosswhite (1999), Gordon (1999) and Zhang (2001). At the same time, the volume includes papers that represent distinctly different approaches to phonetics–phonology interactions (Blevins & Garrett and Frisch), or can be described as articles providing more in-depth phonetic background (Wright). Below I will briefly review the contributions individually, grouping them roughly on theoretical/thematic grounds: I will start with papers representing phonetically drivenOTand will then discuss those dealing mainly with phonetic cues, processing and sound change.
