Elision of Spanish Intervocalic /y/: Toward a Theoretical Account

Abstract

Pronunciation of Spanish intervocalic /y/1 is subject to considerable regional variation, ranging from a prepalatal affricate to a weakly articulated semivowel [i]. In those dialect regions where the latter pronunciation predominates, total effacement of certain instances of intervocalic /y/ is common, resulting in potential merger of minimal pairs such as sella '(s)he seals'/sea 'be' (subj., 3s.).2 In the same dialect zones, hypercorrect epenthesis of intervocalic /yl in popular speech is not infrequent: dzia > diya 'day.' Although these phenomena have been frequently commented, there are few detailed descriptions, and even fewer attempts at incorporating variable elision/epenthesis of /y/ within theories of Spanish phonology. The present study has a dual function: first, to offer a refinement of the observational data, and second, to suggest some tentative steps in the direction of characterizing Spanish dialectal variation in terms of phonological processes. It will be proposed that elision of /y/ results from the Obligatory Contour Principle, operating on an autosegmental tier defining front vowels and /y/. This claim in turn depends upon a model of phonological underspecification of Spanish vowels and glides. The remainder of the discussion proceeds as follows: Section 2 provides data on elision of /y/; Section 3 provides data on epenthesis of /y/; Section 4 discusses underspecification of Spanish vowels and semivowels; Section 5 describes elision of /yl in terms of underspecification and the Obliga-