Free Variation in Epenthesis and Syncope in a Jordanian Arabic Dialect: An Optimality-Theory Perspective

Abstract

This paper sets out to investigate aspects of free variation in a variety of Jordanian Arabic spoken in the northern parts of the country. The study will consider two basic linguistic phenomena; namely segment addition ‘epenthesis’ in word final coda clusters, and segment deletion ‘syncope’ between word final identical coda consonants. Both phenomena in the dialect feature cases of free variation. These phenomena will be analyzed within the framework of Optimality Theory with reference to free ranking of constraints. The paper details three major approaches within Optimality Theory used to account for cases of free variation and will provide evidence that in Jordanian Arabic, free variation in epenthesis and syncope results from the interaction of constraints that are freely ranked in the phonology of the language.