Robust Interpretive Parsing in Metrical Stress Theory
Bruce B. Tesar · 1998
this paper. This paper presents an efficient algorithm for the interpretive parsing of forms for optimality theoretic systems for metrical stress. This algorithm has been used in learning simulations that have been presented elsewhere (Tesar 1997, in press). The system used for illustration in this paper has 8 freely rankable constraints, and can account for core metrical phenomena (the samebasic algorithm works for several metrical stress systems accommodating a larger variety of stress phenomena; see section 2.1 below). The underlying forms are strings of syllables, and the full structural descriptions include foot structure and the assignment of stress levels to the syllables. The overt forms include the syllables and their stress levels, but not the foot structure. Overt forms are inherently ambiguous; the same pattern of stress levels is consistent with multiple foot structures. For example, a tri-syllabic overt form with main stress on the middle syllable, [####],