Generative Phonology Of Tamil

This book provides, for the first time, a complete description of the sound structure of Tamil language within the framework of Transformational Generative Grammar. It explores the power of the generative techniques to explain the phonological structure of the language and opens up new vistas for the linguist to produce a more economical grammar by using fewer and simpler rules than could be produced if other methods are employed. It contains a comprehensive description of the underlying phonological segments and features of Tamil language, a classification and rank order of segments, classification of segments by features, and a branching diagram. Constraints on phonological representation are presented in the form of Lexical Redundancy Rules. The phonological rules have been examined in detail. The classification system of verbs and nouns, lexical and grammatical formations, and the readjustment component have been fully explained. The implications of the study in solving some problems of Tamil Phonology have been assessed. For comprehension of its contents, the book requires only a basic knowledge of the theory of Generative Phonology on the part of the reader. This work will be of interest to all linguists who venture to test this theory.