Reduplicant Shape Alternations in Tawala: Re-evaluating Base-Dependence
Sam Zukoff
July 2023 

Most theories of reduplication, including Base-Reduplicant Correspondence Theory (McCarthy & Prince 1995), predict the existence of "base-dependent" reduplication-phonology interactions (Inkelas & Zoll 2005; Haugen & Hicks Kennard 2011), wherein phonological properties of the reduplicant or base crucially depend on information present only in the other constituent. Inkelas & Zoll assert that Morphological Doubling Theory (MDT) predicts the absence of such patterns, and indeed that, when borderline cases are properly analyzed, no such cases exist. This paper seeks to clarify the state of affairs regarding base-dependent reduplicant shape alternations via the analysis of partial reduplication in Tawala (Ezard 1997) -- based on refinements and expansions of the analyses presented in Hicks Kennard (2004) and Haugen & Hicks Kennard (2011) -- which has been identified as a potential case of base-dependence. This paper advances two conclusions. First, Tawala's reduplication pattern does constitute base-dependence, countering Inkelas & Zoll's claim to the contrary and undermining a prediction of MDT. Second, contra Haugen & Hicks Kennard, MDT is capable of analyzing this pattern; however, doing so requires a highly ad hoc analysis involving powerful machinery, raising further concerns about the restrictiveness of MDT. (Revised version of "Reduplicant Shape Alternations in Ponapean and Tawala: Re-evaluating Base-Dependence" [lingbuzz/006862], with sections on Ponapean removed)

Format:	[ pdf ]
Reference:	lingbuzz/007412 (please use that when you cite this article)
Published in:	submitted
keywords:	reduplication, base-reduplicant correspondence theory (brct), morphological doubling theory (mdt), austronesian, morphology, phonology
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