This paper deals with syncope phenomena in English from the functional perspective. On the basis of syncope patterns observed in word-medial positions, it is argued that syncope serves to improve the foot-form related harmonic scale: [LL] → [H], whi...
This paper deals with syncope phenomena in English from the functional perspective. On the basis of syncope patterns observed in word-medial positions, it is argued that syncope serves to improve the foot-form related harmonic scale: [LL] → [H], which is possible by adding Stress-to-Weight Principle to the metrical theory in English. And syncope of stressless vowel in initial syllables is shown to satisfy the metrical consistency of English trochee that a foot must be built at the left edge of the word. Put these together, syncope processes in English words can be well fit into the conspiracy toward a homogeneous target of the promotion of the unmarked foot structure in English: [H] and ALIGN-L. By taking a global and functional approach, this paper provides a more unified and well-motivated explanation why syncope occurs rather than how it happens.