Proper name subcategory: a prominent position

Abstract

Proponents of positional faithfulness theory in phonology have identified root-initial syllables, stressed syllables, roots, category nouns, and somehow final syllables as prominent positions that exhibit asymmetrical effects in resisting neutralization themselves but triggering it in other, less privileged, positions and categories. Based on data mainly from Jordanian Arabic, but from other languages as well, this paper establishes the proper name subcategory as a prominent licensor that phonologically manifests itself in the same ways as other well-established prominent positions. The proper name subcategory maintains a full inventory of sounds whereas other categories use only a subset of that inventory. It also resists neutralization to which other categories submit, and it licenses neutralization resistance to other categories such as loanword proper names. Additionally, the proper name subcategory tolerates marked structures that are either prohibited or neutralized in other categories.