Introduction

This chapter presents an introduction to non-linear phonology, and a discussion of the analysis of harmony within non-linear theory. In their seminal work, The Sound Pattern of English (SPE), Chomsky & Halle propose a formal theory of phonology that provides the critical first measures towards our current understanding of the nature of assimilation. Any distinctive feature or phonological property which functions independently of the phonological segment, as do the tone features is termed an autosegment, and this non-linear approach to phonological representations is referred to as Autosegmental Phonology. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent of this book. It examines the phenomena of consonant sound symbolism, as observed in the Native American languages of the northwest. The chapter investigates the special properties of morphologically governed assimilation processes, which differ in significant ways from non-morphologically governed assimilation. Morphologically governed harmony processes lack some of the blocking phenomena seen in non-morphologically governed harmonies.