Author Description

This is the first extended study written within the framework of phonological government. Following the presentation of main aspects of this theory, the process of vowel-zero alternations is addressed and analyzed together with the idea that phonological processes are determined by principles of Universal Grammar along with parameters that distinguish languages. Vowel-zero alternations are investigated in terms of proper government of empty nuclei, which receive no phonetic interpretation when properly governed. Dr. Charette also considers the constraints on proper government, and argues for their derivation resulting from conflict among different grammatical parameters.