Some Controversial Questions in Spanish Phonology

• Published in: Linguistic inquiry 1974-04, Vol.5 (2), p.282-298
• Main Authors: Brame, Michael K, Bordelois, Ivonne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0024-3892

In reply to Harris' evaluation of their "Vocalic alternations in Spanish" (See preceding abstract.), the Raising-Breaking rule is defended against accusations of inadequacy on the descriptive, observational, and explanatory levels. Harris' arguments against the descriptive adequacy of the rule are rejected on the grounds that he fails to consider various relevant points and inaccurately attacks those points he does take into consideration. Criticism of observational deficiency is repudiated as lacking evidence, particularly since, with only two exceptions, all of Harris' data has already been introduced by the authors in their original article. In defense of the explanatory adequacy of the authors' analysis, its complexity is admitted. Harris' attack of its complexity is rejected as presumptive and lacking counter-proposals for a comparative basis. A simplified alternative of Raising-Breaking is introduced. V. Regier