A study of morpho-phonological processes in the Zanjani dialect of Azerbaijani Turkish based on optimality theory

IntroductionPhonological processes lie at the intersection of phonetics and morphology. These processes examine various speech and written forms related to morphemes, aiming to investigate how certain words or morphemes are realized phonologically in different lexical or grammatical contexts. The present research aimed to investigate the phonological realization process in Zanjani Turkish based on Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky, 1993).The main goal of the Optimality Theory in phonology is to determine how phonological patterns of languages can be explained using constraints. Two types of constraints are examined in this theory: Markedness Constraint and Faithfulness Constraint. Optimality Theory is a method of interpreting constraints, which can be used as a tool in linguistic theories. The core logic of Optimality is based on the premise that constraints cannot be interpreted as binary (satisfied or violated), but rather they are ranked based on their relationship to each other. Such a hierarchical structure results in lower-ranked constraints being violated in favor of higher-ranked constraints.Optimality Theory relies on a conceptually simple but surprisingly rich notion of constraint interaction, where the satisfaction of one constraint can be designated to take absolute priority over the satisfaction of another. The means that grammar uses to resolve conflicts is to rank constraints in a strict dominance hierarchy. Each constraint has absolute priority over all the constraints lower in the hierarchy (Prince & Smolensky, 1993: 2).In Optimality Theory, there are two basic types of constraints. Faithfulness constraints require that the observed surface form (the output) match the underlying or lexical form (the input) in some particular way; that is, these constraints require identity between input and output forms. Markedness constraints, on the other hand, impose requirements on the structural well-formedness of the output. Both types of constraints play a crucial role in the theory, working together to yield the optimal candidate.Optimality Theory also utilizes a Generator (GEN) which generates a list of outputs or candidates from a given input (McCarthy, 2008, p.16).GEN (Input) = {Cand1, Cand2, …}The Generator function has the freedom of analysis so that it can generate unlimited phonetic forms for each word. (McCarthy, 2002, p. 8). The optimal candidate is then chosen by the Evaluator (EVAL) based on the language specific constraints. (McCarthy, 2008: 19):     Generator  Evaluator   Input →                                → Candidates →                              →  Output Optimal Theory Model (McCarthy, 2002: 10) In order to show the function of GEN and EVAL, Optimality Theory utilizes the tables labeled as tableau. On the other hand, morpho-phonology is the branch of linguistics that studies the interaction between morphological and phonological processes. Morpho-phonological analysis often involves formulating a set of formal rules or constraints that successfully predict regular sound changes occurring in the morphemes of a given language. When morphemes combine, they influence each other’s sound structure, resulting in different variant pronunciations of the same morpheme. This study sought to answer how phonological processes in Zanjani Turkish can be described based on Optimality Theory and how constraints are ranked in these processes. It is evident that Optimality Theory in phonology does not face the limitations of previous generative approaches and is capable of describing all phonological processes across languages, including Zanjani Turkish. Additionally, language forms a part of the cultural identity of each community, and studying the language of a community holds special significance for understanding that community. Considering that a considerable portion of Iran's population speaks Azerbaijani Turkishm and the Zanjani dialect is part of it, studying it is a necessary step toward preserving our country's cultural and linguistic heritage. This research was limited to the city of Zanjan. The researchers are natives of Zanjan and speak Zanjani Turkish.  Materials and MethodsData for this study were collected using the interview method, which is one of the fundamental, and perhaps the best, methods of gathering information, especially in dialect studies. Both fieldwork and library methods were employed. The library method was primarily used to collect background theoretical and descriptive studies. Data collection was carried out by approaching native Zanjani dialect speakers, both men and women. Speakers were selected from three age groups, ranging from 15 to 70 years old: adolescents (10 individuals), middle-aged adults (10 individuals), and older adults (10 individuals). The interviews were conducted in a friendly environment to minimize the influence of hypercorrection. All phonetic transcriptions in this research were prepared using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), 2005 version. In this study, morpho-phonetic processed are defined as phonetic changes that occur in the morphemic context, i.e., at the boundary between morphemes, and have phonetic motivation. This research was conducted using descriptive and analytical methods, based on data gathered from native speakers of Zanjani Turkish through a structured questionnaire. The morpho-phonological processes in Zanjani Turkish were analyzed within the framework of Optimality Theory.  Results and DiscussionThe data indicate that the high-ranking constraint ONSET (which requires syllables to begin with a consonant) and the HARMONY constraint (which requires the vowel in a suffix to harmonize with the back/front and round/non-round features of the final vowel in the root) play a crucial role in the morpho-phonology of the Zanjani dialect. Violating these constraints significantly reduces optimality. As observed, the plural suffixes (lɑr and lær), ablative suffixes (dæn and dɑn), indirect object suffixes (ɑ and æ), dative (dæ and dɑ), and conditional suffixes (sæ and sɑ) harmonize only with the back/front feature of the final vowel in the root. The accusative suffix (I), negation suffix (sIz), and subjunctive suffix (In) both harmonize with the back/front and the round/non-round features with the final vowel in the preceding root. The data also show that the DEP-IO constraint (do not insert a segment) holds a low rank in the ranking of constraints, as segment insertion or deletion sometimes occurs to avoid vowel hiatus. On the other hand, the MAXMS constraint (do not delete a mon-vocalic suffix) is given a high rank, and deviating from it is considered a violation. The findings of this research support earlier research by Sohrabi (2013), Razinezhad (2012), Razinezhad (2019), Mahmoudi Kojabad (2012), Mahmoudi and Modarresi-Qavami (2007), and Rezvani (2007), confirming that Azerbaijani Turkish is highly sensitive to vowel harmony.  ConclusionsThe faithful constraints IDENT-IO (which requires that an output segment retain the same value as its corresponding input segment) is ranked low in the hierarchy of constraints. Violating this constraint does not render the option non-optimal. Sometimes, morpho-phonological processes lead to the phenomenon of homophony.Zanjani speakers, especially adults, sometimes adhere to complete assimilation. This suggests that the AGREE (feature) constraint is also ranked high. In conclusion, in morpho-phonological processes, two constraints HARMONY and IDENT-IO are always in competition. The HARMONY constraint holds a high rank, while the IDENT-IO constraint holds a low rank, meaning that its violating is not fatal. Another competition that arises during the process of assimilation is the competition between the high-ranking AGREE (feature) constraint (which requires the first vowel of a suffix to harmonize with the final vowel of the root) and the low-ranked IDENT-IO (feature) constraint (which requires the output segment to match the input).