Xxx Assignment #1 Georgian laterals (2013) PART 1 Task 1: The clear [l] and dark [] in Georgian are in a complementary

y distribution as they occur in a mutually exclusive contexts (stated later) with different meanings. Task 2: The contexts for the clear [l] and dark [] in Georgian are as follows: Clear [l] Dark [] #_e e_o e_i #_h k_e i_s a_i e_a What proceeds the clear [l] sound is: the word boundary, [e], [k], and [a]. Its not possible to generalize those sounds as they have nothing in common. What follows the clear [l] sound is: [e] and [i]. Those sounds are vowels, both high and front in their features. This seems to be the general context for the [l] sound. What proceeds the dark [] sound is: [e], the word boundary, and[i]. Its not possible to generalize those contexts. What follows the dark [] sound is: [o], [h], [s], and [a]. Its not possible to generalize those sounds. There is no general context for the occurrence of the dark []. PART 2 Task 1: The division into morphemes is as follows: nom.pl. gen.sg. adv.sg. voc.pl. nom.sg. [xe+ni] [xe+s] [xe+ad] [xel+ebo] [xel + i]

Justification for such a division: I have chosen [xe]/[hel] to be the root morpheme because of its recurrence in every word. The distinction between the two forms will be explained later. It would be possible to establish the division of the word [xeni] as [xe+n+i] considering the form [xel+i]. The [i] part would denote the nominative case, while [n] would be the plural form. However, as in the plural vocative [xelebo] there is no [n] morpheme, and, basing on the data given, I assume that the morphemes are not correlated. 2. The root morpheme in the data is established to be [xel] or [xe]. Both of those form repeat and as the last sound changes without the change of the general meaning an alternation is present. The alternation is l:.

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Xxx Assignment #1 Georgian laterals (2013)

As there are two sounds alternating, two URs are possible. The root morphemes UR is either //xel// or //xe//. We have to test both of them against the given SRs to establish the correct one and derive necessary rules. At first, let us assume the UR of the root morpheme is //xel//. It explain words such as [xeli] and [xelebo], however forms such as [xes] and [head] are not accounted for. Therefore a rule is needed. l / _ n, s, a

The rule seems to be correct when it works for those certain sounds. Nevertheless it cannot be left as it is and must be generalized. [n], [s], and [a] do not share any mutual distinctive features. They do not belong to the same natural class (like +voiced or continuant). It means that the rule is incorrect. Then, let us assume that the UR of the root morpheme is //xe//. It explain words such as [xes] and [head], however forms such as [xeli] and [xelebo] are not accounted for, hence a rule is needed. l /_ i, e The rule seems to be correct. There are no counter-examples in the data, and the context is easily generalized (see part 1: task 2): -> l /_ [ ]

The velar, dark [] becomes an alveolar, clear [l] in the context of a front, high vowels following it. The rule will be called VELAR FRONTING (VF). 3. The criterion of alternation was used to establish the correct UR out of the two possibilities (two alternations). 4. Derivation of the plural vocative [xelebo]: UR VF SR //xe+ebo// /hel+ebo/ [hel+ebo]

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