Sonority Sequencing Principle and conspiracy in Persian in Optimality Theory

Sonority Sequencing Principle and conspiracy in Persian in Optimality Theory Abstract In the framework of Optimality Theory (OT) proposed by Prince and Smolensky (2004) and by citing some evidence of Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) in Persian, this study aims to investigate conspiracy in this language. SSP is a universal tendency in the order of components within a syllable, whereby the sonority scale in the sequence of components in onset is ascending but in coda it is descending. In some cases, to achieve this principle, some different phonological processes conspire. In OT, conspiracy indicates the functional unity of several different phonological processes that pursue the same structural goal. In this descriptive-analytic study which is based on both library and field research, 204 CVCC words violating SSP have been studied. The analysis of the data firstly illustrates that derivative rules cannot show the functional unity of different phonological processes, then in the framework of OT and by depicting optimality tableaus, it is shown how some different phonological processes in Persian (such as deletion, insertion and metathesis), although leading to different outcomes, conspire to achieve one common goal i.e. SSP. Moreover, it is confirmed that SSP is not solely limited to syllables containing long vowels, but it applies to many syllables including short vowels as well.