The Survey of Processes of Spirantization, Approximation, and Deletion in Sirjani Variety: Optimality Theory

The present research describes and analyses some phonological processes of spirantization, approximation, and deletion in Sirjani variety based on optimality theory by using the descriptive and analytical method, this theory is the work of Prince and Smolensky and is one of constraint-based theory. To conduct this research, 10 male and female speakers aged 50-65 years and illiterate were randomly selected. Linguistic data were collected using free speech recording, interviews with speakers, and available library resources related to the Sirjani variety. The collected data, after being confirmed by the native researcher of this research, are classified and ranked according to the type of process that results from interaction faithfulness and markedness constraints. Some of the obtained results of this research are: the factor of occurrence of lenition process in optimality theory is, the phonetic stimulus in reduction of production attempt. This phonetic stimulus is in the form of LAZY constraint. Also characterized the type of occurrence of any of phonological processes of lenition in Sirjani variety.