Variation and change in optimality theory
Artο Anttila, Young-mee Yu Cho · Lingua · 1998
This paper puts forward an optimality-theoretic explanation for the structure-dependence of synchronic variation and diachronic change. The approach is illustrated by modelling two well-documented phonological changes in detail. The model combines invariant regularities, variable regularities and statistical preferences in a seamless fashion by means of partially ordered constraint sets. Diachronic change is visualized in terms of grammar lattices (inventories of possible grammars) induced by universal and language-particular rankings.