優選論階乘類型與官話方言中元音同化

OT Factorial Typology and the Typology of Mandarin Mid Vowel Assimilation

優選理論(0T)採用具有語言普遍性的制約條件表達語言的共性。制約的階乘類型，也就是制約的所有可能的等級排序，則可預測可能存在的語言並排除不可能的語言。本文以漢語官話方言中元音同化現象的標誌制約所發展出的階乘類型來查驗優選論階乘類型預測的準確性。研究結果顯示階乘類型的預測大致得到印證。對於少數預測存在但是缺乏語料支持的例子，作者提出原則性的解釋，並討論不同語言類型分布不均的問題。

Optimality Theory (OT) posits a universal set of constraints, and the factorial typology of the constraints, i.e. through all logically possible permutations of constraints to generate all possible constraint rankings, is predicted to produce possible grammars and exclude impossible ones. This paper examines the factorial typology of the markedness constraints relevant to Mandarin mid vowel assimilation, and checks the OT factorial typology against the typology of mid vowel assimilation. I demonstrate that there is a reasonable match between the two typologies, suggest that the few mismatches can be accounted for on principled grounds, and discuss the issue of uneven frequency distribution among different typological patterns.