Phonological Processes in Algerian Arabic as Spoken in Mostaganem: An Optimality Theory Perspective

Abstract

The study at hand explores the phonological phenomena peculiar to the Algerian dialect that is spoken in Mostaganem and is known as MostaganeMARabic (MAR). Such phonological phenomena or else processes comprehend assimilation, metathesis, epenthesis, deletion and major class change. Given that these processes represent a fertile area for phonological analysis and theorizing, the present study aims at demonstrating that optimality theory (OT), an approach within the generative phonology tradition, provides an exhaustive and explanatory account of MAR’s phonological processes. Furthermore, the present study aims at comparing between OT account of MAR’s phonological processes and the account provided by its rule-based predecessor for the same set of processes. In order to materialize the aforementioned set of aims, a qualitative method has been adopted in the present study as a hundred native speakers of MAR pertaining to different gender, age and educational groups have been recorded. Recording sessions took place in various occasions and settings, including taxi, supermarket, beach, family gatherings, restaurant, neighbours’ chat, hairdresser’s chat. The speeches of the hundred participants were subjected to transcription in order to facilitate the identification of MAR’s phonological processes. After the stage of process identification was completed, analysis and account of these processes followed, first from a rule-based perspective, then within an OT framework. Each account relied on different mechanics and principles of phonological description and representation. Effectively, the rule-based account was hinged on phonological rules and the dynamics of their notations and distinctive features. OT account, on the other hand, was grounded in the interaction and hierarchy of markedness and faithfulness constraints. OT account of MAR’s processes proved to be more satisfactory and explanatory than the account provided by its rule-based counterpart as OT, unlike the rule-based approach, succeeded in explaining why a certain process occurs, but also why that specific process and not another takes place in a given case. Nevertheless, the relation between OT and its rule-based predecessor remains of a complementary nature since OT is meant to fill the pitfallsof the rule-based approach.