'Markedness' refers to the tendency of languages to show a preference for particular structures or sounds. This bias towards 'marked' elements is consistent within and across languages, and tells us a great deal about what languages can and cannot do. This pioneering study presents a groundbreaking theory of markedness in phonology. De Lacy argues that markedness is part of our linguistic competence, and is determined by three conflicting mechanisms in the brain: (a) pressure to preserve marked sounds ('preservation'), (b) pressure to turn marked sounds into unmarked sounds ('reduction'), and (c) a mechanism allowing the distinction between marked and unmarked sounds to be collapsed ('conflation'). He shows that due to these mechanisms, markedness occurs only when preservation is irrelevant. Drawing on examples of phenomena such as epenthesis, neutralisation, assimilation, vowel reduction and sonority-driven stress, Markedness offers an important insight into this essential concept in the understanding of human language.

'Markedness' refers to the tendency of languages to show a preference for particular structures or sounds. This bias towards 'marked' elements is consistent within and across languages, and tells us a great deal about what languages can and cannot do. This pioneering study presents a groundbreaking theory of markedness in phonology. De Lacy argues that markedness is part of our linguistic competence, and is determined by three conflicting mechanisms in the brain: (a) pressure to preserve marked sounds ('preservation'), (b) pressure to turn marked sounds into unmarked sounds ('reduction'), and (c) a mechanism allowing the distinction between marked and unmarked sounds to be collapsed ('conflation'). He shows that due to these mechanisms, markedness occurs only when preservation is irrelevant. Drawing on examples of phenomena such as epenthesis, neutralisation, assimilation, vowel reduction and sonority-driven stress, Markedness offers an important insight into this essential concept in the understanding of human language.

Phonology - the study of how the sounds of speech are represented in our minds - is one of the core areas of linguistic theory, and is central to the study of human language. This handbook brings together the world's leading experts in phonology to present the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the field. Focusing on research and the most influential theories, the authors discuss each of the central issues in phonological theory, explore a variety of empirical phenomena, and show how phonology interacts with other aspects of language such as syntax, morphology, phonetics, and language acquisition. Providing a one-stop guide to every aspect of this important field, The Cambridge Handbook of Phonology will serve as an invaluable source of readings for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, an informative overview for linguists and a useful starting point for anyone beginning phonological research.

Research in phonology has changed dramatically over the past two decades, with increasing influence from adjacent fields, including phonetics, psychology, and computer science, on both theories and methodologies. Cross-field interaction has led to a new emphasis on computation, learning, and evidence, and many new theoretical frameworks and methods have been developed. Now in its second edition, this handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of phonological theories, methods, and evidence. It has been fully revised and updated to offer both foundational and forward-looking content by combining classic issues with new research areas. Split into five thematic sections, with each chapter written by an expert in the field, this handbook continues to represent the state of the art in the discipline. It is essential reading for instructors, researchers, and students of phonology, as well as for those in related fields such as phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, psycholinguistics, and speech pathology.

Research in phonology has changed dramatically over the past two decades, with increasing influence from adjacent fields, including phonetics, psychology, and computer science, on both theories and methodologies. Cross-field interaction has led to a new emphasis on computation, learning, and evidence, and many new theoretical frameworks and methods have been developed. Now in its second edition, this handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of phonological theories, methods, and evidence. It has been fully revised and updated to offer both foundational and forward-looking content by combining classic issues with new research areas. Split into five thematic sections, with each chapter written by an expert in the field, this handbook continues to represent the state of the art in the discipline. It is essential reading for instructors, researchers, and students of phonology, as well as for those in related fields such as phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, psycholinguistics, and speech pathology.

'Markedness' refers to the tendency of languages to show a preference for particular structures or sounds. This bias towards 'marked' elements is consistent within and across languages, and tells us a great deal about what languages can and cannot do. This pioneering study presents a groundbreaking theory of markedness in phonology. De Lacy argues that markedness is part of our linguistic competence, and is determined by three conflicting mechanisms in the brain: (a) pressure to preserve marked sounds ('preservation'), (b) pressure to turn marked sounds into unmarked sounds ('reduction'), and (c) a mechanism allowing the distinction between marked and unmarked sounds to be collapsed ('conflation'). He shows that due to these mechanisms, markedness occurs only when preservation is irrelevant. Drawing on examples of phenomena such as epenthesis, neutralisation, assimilation, vowel reduction and sonority-driven stress, Markedness offers an important insight into this essential concept in the understanding of human language.

'Markedness' refers to the tendency of languages to show a preference for particular structures or sounds. This bias towards 'marked' elements is consistent within and across languages, and tells us a great deal about what languages can and cannot do. This pioneering study presents a groundbreaking theory of markedness in phonology. De Lacy argues that markedness is part of our linguistic competence, and is determined by three conflicting mechanisms in the brain: (a) pressure to preserve marked sounds ('preservation'), (b) pressure to turn marked sounds into unmarked sounds ('reduction'), and (c) a mechanism allowing the distinction between marked and unmarked sounds to be collapsed ('conflation'). He shows that due to these mechanisms, markedness occurs only when preservation is irrelevant. Drawing on examples of phenomena such as epenthesis, neutralisation, assimilation, vowel reduction and sonority-driven stress, Markedness offers an important insight into this essential concept in the understanding of human language.

Phonology - the study of how the sounds of speech are represented in our minds - is one of the core areas of linguistic theory, and is central to the study of human language. This handbook brings together the world's leading experts in phonology to present the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the field. Focusing on research and the most influential theories, the authors discuss each of the central issues in phonological theory, explore a variety of empirical phenomena, and show how phonology interacts with other aspects of language such as syntax, morphology, phonetics, and language acquisition. Providing a one-stop guide to every aspect of this important field, The Cambridge Handbook of Phonology will serve as an invaluable source of readings for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, an informative overview for linguists and a useful starting point for anyone beginning phonological research.

Research in phonology has changed dramatically over the past two decades, with increasing influence from adjacent fields, including phonetics, psychology, and computer science, on both theories and methodologies. Cross-field interaction has led to a new emphasis on computation, learning, and evidence, and many new theoretical frameworks and methods have been developed. Now in its second edition, this handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of phonological theories, methods, and evidence. It has been fully revised and updated to offer both foundational and forward-looking content by combining classic issues with new research areas. Split into five thematic sections, with each chapter written by an expert in the field, this handbook continues to represent the state of the art in the discipline. It is essential reading for instructors, researchers, and students of phonology, as well as for those in related fields such as phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, psycholinguistics, and speech pathology.

Research in phonology has changed dramatically over the past two decades, with increasing influence from adjacent fields, including phonetics, psychology, and computer science, on both theories and methodologies. Cross-field interaction has led to a new emphasis on computation, learning, and evidence, and many new theoretical frameworks and methods have been developed. Now in its second edition, this handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of phonological theories, methods, and evidence. It has been fully revised and updated to offer both foundational and forward-looking content by combining classic issues with new research areas. Split into five thematic sections, with each chapter written by an expert in the field, this handbook continues to represent the state of the art in the discipline. It is essential reading for instructors, researchers, and students of phonology, as well as for those in related fields such as phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, psycholinguistics, and speech pathology.