1 markedness.
a notion of markedness plays a key role,which embodies
universility in a 'soft' sence.the idea is that all types of
linguistic structure have two values,one of which is 'marked',the
other is 'unmarked'.
unmarked values are cross-linguistically preferred and basic
in all grammars, while marked values are cross-linguistically
avoided and used by grammars only to create contrast.
2 basic concepts of OT
OT 的基本主张:
2.1contraint(限制?规则?)是可以破坏violate的。
the best output of a grammar is the least costly violation of
the constraint.
constraint are intrinsically in conflict,hence every logically
possible output of any grammar will necessarily violate at least
some constrains,in order to select the 'most harmonic' or
'optimal'output form.
2.1 ranking
this confliction-regulating mechanism consist of a ranking of
universal constraints.languages basically diffe