From velar codas to high nuclei: Phonetic and structural change in OT.

This paper uses the formalism of Optimality Theory (OT) to retrace the evolution of the phonological fragment responsible for the structure of rimes, as Gallo-Romance evolved into Middle French. It is shown that the well-formed-ness of rimes responded to constant pressure to obey emergent markedness criteria and evolved through repeated violations of faithfulness. Two specific issues are closely scrutinized: (1) the interaction that took place, in 4th-c. Gallo-Romance, between various types of yod and two general processes of the phonology of the time: diphthongization and voicing, and (2) the left to right alignment shift within Old French diphthongs and triphthongs which gave to the reflex of former velar consonants full vocalic value and the structural properties of a nucleus head. Reranking of universal constraints, as it reflects perceptual enhancements, provides, together with appropriate stages of relexification, the main tool for an analysis of sound change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]