Stricture in Feature Geometry

This work is an in-depth investigation into the interaction of place of articulation features and constriction degree features ('stricture' features) in phonological processes. The central claim, a development of Feature Geometry theory, is that place features and oral stricture features like consonantal and continuant form a phonological unit called the 'articulator group'. This proposal finds motivation in a wide range of empirical areas, including place assimilation, complex segment contrasts, dissimilatory effects, and spirantisation. Theoretical issues implicated include the organisation of features, the understanding of the Obligatory Contour Principle, feature underspecification, structure preservation effects, and the phonetics-phonology interface.