Words and Rules theory vs. Generative Phonology: A Study of the Past Tense Inflection of Persian Verbs

In this study, we evaluated the explanation of the past tense inflection of Persian verbs in Generative Phonology and "Words and Rules" theories. We designed a test in which 52 pseudowords, similar to Persian irregular verbs, was presented to the participants, and their task was to choose their preferred past tense inflection from those presented as options. The results suggested that not only there is no phonological rule in the past tense inflection of Persian irregular verbs, but the presence of dual verbs rules out any formulation of structural rules. It also suggested that the irregular inflection of irregulars whose stems ended in -in is due to the phonotactic restrictions that the whole language complies with, not phonological rules. The regularization of monosyllabic stems and stems ending in -ɒ is due to their lack of associative strength, which in turn is due to their syllabic structure and the historical ...