Phonetic Grounding and Phonology: Vowel Backness Harmony and Vowel Height Harmony

Abstract

I further conclude that the difference between VBH and VHH indicates that phonological approaches that model vowel harmony as spreading or agreement of features are inadequate. Within those models, there is no prediction that VBH and VHH should be fundamentally different. Typological patterns of harmony are influenced by phonetic processes of speech. It is not necessary to assume phonological patterns are shaped by innate features or innate constraints. It is possible that features and constraints exert influence in the shaping of phonological patterns, but such influence is redundant. Occam's Razor suggests there is no need to rely on features and constraints when it comes to explaining patterns that are explicable through reference to phonetics.