Multitier phonotactics with logic and algebra

Document Type

Journal Article

Role

Author

Published In

Phonology

Haverford Libraries Support

Open Publishing Agreement - Cambridge University Press

Volume

43

Article Number

e9

Publication Date

4-30-2026

Abstract

The subregular hypothesis posits that all phonological markedness constraints can be described by some principled, learnable subclass of the regular languages. In this article, I classify a wide range of attested long-distance phonological markedness constraints, covering stress, harmony and tone, with focus on interactions of constraints over multiple tiers. To this end, connections are established between propositional logic over multiple tiers and algebraic properties of formal languages. These techniques allow for mechanical verification or refutation of membership in a class. Modelling the constraints and their induced patterns as formal languages, I demonstrate that the entire range lies within the propositional level, including Uyghur backness harmony and Karanga Shona tone, which have been presented as challenges to aspects of the subregular hypothesis.

Keywords

computational phonology, stress patterns, Uyghur backness harmony, Karanga Shona tone, propositional logic, tier-based extensions, multitier extensions, subregular hypothesis, algebra

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