ABSTRACT
The distribution of the masculine singular definite article allomorphs il and lo has been a recurrent topic in the Italian phonological literature (Agostiniani, 1982, Ambrosini, 1978, Bertinetto, 1999, Camilli, 1945, Chierchia, 1982, 1986, Davis, 1990, Del Gobbo, 2000, Dressier, 1984, Marotta, 1993, Morelli, 1999, Muljacic, 1971, 1974, Renzi, 1976, Romeo, 1969, Stammerjohann, 1973, Vanelli, 1979, 1980, 1992). The general consensus is that the distribution of il and lo depends on the syllabic structure of the following noun or adjective (Chierchia, 1982, 1986, Davis, 1990, Marotta, 1993, Morelli, 1999): il is argued to precede nouns (or adjectives) that begin with consonant clusters presumed tautosyllabic (e.g. CL, CN) while lo is argued to precede nouns (or adjectives) that begin with consonant clusters presumed heterosyllabic (e.g. SC, CS, CT). After reviewing this literature in detail, the present chapter reports on the results of two definite article allomorphy experiments. Task 1, the article allomorphy production experiment, tested native speaker knowledge of article selection before native and non-native consonant clusters and segments. Task 2, the written allomorphy experiment, tested the hypothesis that the definite article allomorph is listed in the lexical entry for words beginning with non-native clusters.
