Russian Consonant-Vowel Interactions and Derivational Opacity

Abstract

Given the many facts cited on behalf of derivational opacity, the case for it can seem compelling. But there are always alternatives to opacity worth exploring. Such alternatives can call on phonetics, the lexicon, and morphology, and at least in some cases, they have better independent motivation. This paper lays out each kind of alternative approach to cases of purported derivational opacity, all drawn from Russian phonology, a very rich source of material for apparent opacity.

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