Tonal chain shifts in Taiwanese: a comparative markedness approach

Abstract

This paper discusses tonal chain shifts in Taiwanese from the perspective of comparative markedness. The tone circle in this language considers old tone markedness violations more serious than new tone markedness violations. This is referred to as “anti-grandfathering effects,” which motivate the circular chain shifts. This paper also argues for local conjunction to work with comparative markedness; new tone markedness constraints are locally conjoined with tone feature faithfulness constraints. The WOW (worst-of-the-worst) effects provide a direction for the tone circle. The employment of comparative markedness offers a fresh angle from which to examine tone sandhi across Chinese dialects, and makes antifaithfulness and contrast preservation dispensable.