On the Empirical Basis of Output-Output Correspondence
Mark Hale, Madelyn J. Kissock, Charles Reiss · 1997
The increased computational power provided to Optimality Theory by the addition of Output-Output Correspondence as a type of a constraint is critically evaluated in this paper. An examination of the most prominent supporting evidence - that of Rotuman (McCarthy 1995), English hypocoristics (Benua 1995), and the selection of cases presented in Kenstowicz (1994) - indicates that alternative accounts which do not require Otput-Output Correspondence as a formal mechanism are not only possible, but in each case strongly supported by the relevant data. We conclude that unless more compelling cases can be found, Optimality theory should not be allowed to become even less constrained by the addtion of Output-Output Correspondence as a type of constraint.