Charles Reis
Biographic Data
| ID | 747493 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Charles Reis |
| GIVEN NAMES | Charles |
| FAMILY NAME | Reis |
| SIGNATURE | REIS C |
| AFFILIATIONS | Concordia University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8215-8252 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 34 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1994 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Get rich quick: Why kids don't need Occam's Razor
Most phonologists assume that phonological processes are encoded in terms of natural classes defined by sets of features. Thus, children acquiring a phonological grammar need some way to determine the natural classes identifying target and trigger segments. Exactly how children solve this feature specification problem (FSP) is unknown. Many phonologists endorse the view that the feature specifications should be minimal in the sense of containing …
Conquer primal fear: Phonological features are innate and substance-free
We argue that the representational primes of the human phonological faculty, the so-called distinctive features, are innate and substance-free. Our arguments for the innateness of features are built on traditional and novel logical arguments, experimental evidence accumulating over recent decades, and somewhat detailed proposals about their neurobiological reality. As symbols in the brain, features are substance-free, that is, they are devoid of …
Priority Union and Feature Logic in Phonology
Phonological rules built from a single operation, priority union, can model both feature-filling and feature-changing processes. The distinction is handled by specifying which argument of priority union is defeasible. Priority union should be considered as a candidate for inclusion in phonological Universal Grammar
Towards a complete Logical Phonology model of intrasegmental changes
All changes to the internal structure of phonological segments arise from combinations of rules based on two set-theoretic operations: feature deletion by set subtraction and feature insertion by unification. Apparent cases of rules targeting underspecified segments reflect two kinds of vacuous rule application, one due to unification failure and the other due to vacuous unification. Despite this reduction of all segment-internal changes to two b…
Cognitive Phonetics: The Transduction of Distinctive Features at the Phonology-Phonetics Interface
We propose that the interface between phonology and phonetics is mediated by a transduction process that converts elementary units of phonological computation, features, into temporally coordinated neuromuscular patterns, called 'True Phonetic Representations', which are directly interpretable by the motor system of speech production. Our view of the interface is constrained by substance-free generative phonological assumptions and by insights ga…
Targeting underspecified segments: A formal analysis of feature-changing and feature-filling rules
The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Interfaces
'The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Interfaces' explores how the core components of the language faculty interact. This book shows how these interactions are reflected in linguistic & cognitive theory, considers what they reveal, & looks at their reflections in expression & communication.
Microvariation, variation, and the features of universal grammar
Quantification in structural descriptions: Attested and unattested patterns
This paper represents a contribution to the theory of 'substance free' phonology. The need for quantificational statements to express identity and nonidentity conditions in phonology entails the rejection of feature geometry. Feature geometric representation is insufficiently powerful, and must be replaced by an algebraic form of representation that allows the use of variables and indices for the purposes of identity checking. An attempt is made …
Accepting Markednesslessness: How Non-Phonological Symbolic Computation Shapes Trends in Attested Phonological Systems
Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society: General Session and Parasession on Phonetic Sources of Phonological Patterns: Synchronic and Diachronic Explanations (2003)
The Subset Principle in phonology: Why the tabula can't be rasa
We demonstrate the logical necessity of assuming innate knowledge for language acquisition using toy grammars. The implications are applied to reconceptualizing the Subset Principle in terms of features, rather than, say, segments. Both syntactic and phonological issues are discussed, but the focus is on the acquisition of phonological inventories. We point out that our logical arguments converge with recent empirical results
Deriving the Feature-Filling/Feature-Changing Contrast: An Application to Hungarian Vowel Harmony
The article explores an alternative to the interpretive procedure adopted in SPE and proposes a unified interpretive procedure for all languages. The proposal solves long-standing problems by making it unnecessary to refer to a third value of binary features [θF], to introduce negation into lexical representations (e.g., [NOT + rd]), or to introduce a feature filling/feature changing diacritic on rules.The article provides a metric for comparing …
Optimality Theory from a cognitive science perspective
The appeal to Richness of the Base in Optimality Theory may undermine many OT analyses, as well as OT's status as a psychological, and not merely computational theory. Constraint violability in OT theorizing is critiqued as arising from a confusion between epistemological and ontological issues. Following Kiparsky (1973), conspiracies are explained as epiphenomena due to the nature of language change and language acquisition
Substance Abuse" and "Dysfunctionalism: Current Trends in Phonology
January 01 2000 “Substance Abuse” and “Dysfunctionalism”: Current Trends in Phonology In Special Collection: CogNet Mark Hale, Mark Hale Concordia University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Charles Reiss Charles Reiss Concordia University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Author and Article Information Mark Hale Concordia University Charles Reiss Concordia University Online ISSN:…
Formal and Empirical Arguments concerning Phonological Acquisition
Smolensky (1996a) has proposed an ingenious solution to the well-known "comprehension/production" dilemma in phonological acquisition. In this article we argue that Smolensky's model encounters serious difficulties with respect to the parsing algorithm proposed and the learnability of underlying representations. Drawing on the generative literature in phonological acquisition, as well as the work of phoneticians and psycholinguists, we offer alte…
The Origin of the nn/ð Alternation in Old Icelandic
Preview this article: The Origin of the nn/ð Alternation in Old Icelandic, Page 1 of 1 /docserver/preview/fulltext/nowele.30.08rei-1.gif
Evaluating the Empirical Basis for Output-Output Correspondence
Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society: General Session and Parasession on Pragmatics and Grammatical Structure (1997)
Phonological Acquisition and Phonological Theory
Linguistic Reconstruction: An Introduction to Theory and Method
The outcome of /Ir/ and /nr/ in Old Icelandic
L'A. examine les conditions de preservation, d'assimilation et de deletion du /r/ apparaissant immediatement apres /l/ et /n/ en vieil-islandais. Il propose une explication aux elements observes et discute leurs implications pour un modele phonologique general
Formal and Empirical Arguments concerning Phonological Acquisition
Smolensky (1996a) has proposed an ingenious solution to the well-known "comprehension/production" dilemma in phonological acquisition. In this article we argue that Smolensky's model encounters serious difficulties with respect to the parsing algorithm proposed and the learnability of underlying representations. Drawing on the generative literature in phonological acquisition, as well as the work of phoneticians and psycholinguists, we offer alte…
Substance Abuse" and "Dysfunctionalism: Current Trends in Phonology
January 01 2000 “Substance Abuse” and “Dysfunctionalism”: Current Trends in Phonology In Special Collection: CogNet Mark Hale, Mark Hale Concordia University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Charles Reiss Charles Reiss Concordia University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Author and Article Information Mark Hale Concordia University Charles Reiss Concordia University Online ISSN:…
The Subset Principle in phonology: Why the tabula can't be rasa
We demonstrate the logical necessity of assuming innate knowledge for language acquisition using toy grammars. The implications are applied to reconceptualizing the Subset Principle in terms of features, rather than, say, segments. Both syntactic and phonological issues are discussed, but the focus is on the acquisition of phonological inventories. We point out that our logical arguments converge with recent empirical results
Targeting underspecified segments: A formal analysis of feature-changing and feature-filling rules
Microvariation, variation, and the features of universal grammar
Deriving the Feature-Filling/Feature-Changing Contrast: An Application to Hungarian Vowel Harmony
The article explores an alternative to the interpretive procedure adopted in SPE and proposes a unified interpretive procedure for all languages. The proposal solves long-standing problems by making it unnecessary to refer to a third value of binary features [θF], to introduce negation into lexical representations (e.g., [NOT + rd]), or to introduce a feature filling/feature changing diacritic on rules.The article provides a metric for comparing …
The outcome of /Ir/ and /nr/ in Old Icelandic
L'A. examine les conditions de preservation, d'assimilation et de deletion du /r/ apparaissant immediatement apres /l/ et /n/ en vieil-islandais. Il propose une explication aux elements observes et discute leurs implications pour un modele phonologique general
Linguistic Reconstruction: An Introduction to Theory and Method
The Origin of the nn/ð Alternation in Old Icelandic
Preview this article: The Origin of the nn/ð Alternation in Old Icelandic, Page 1 of 1 /docserver/preview/fulltext/nowele.30.08rei-1.gif
Evaluating the Empirical Basis for Output-Output Correspondence
Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society: General Session and Parasession on Pragmatics and Grammatical Structure (1997)
Phonological Acquisition and Phonological Theory
Formal and Empirical Arguments concerning Phonological Acquisition
Smolensky (1996a) has proposed an ingenious solution to the well-known "comprehension/production" dilemma in phonological acquisition. In this article we argue that Smolensky's model encounters serious difficulties with respect to the parsing algorithm proposed and the learnability of underlying representations. Drawing on the generative literature in phonological acquisition, as well as the work of phoneticians and psycholinguists, we offer alte…
Optimality Theory from a cognitive science perspective
The appeal to Richness of the Base in Optimality Theory may undermine many OT analyses, as well as OT's status as a psychological, and not merely computational theory. Constraint violability in OT theorizing is critiqued as arising from a confusion between epistemological and ontological issues. Following Kiparsky (1973), conspiracies are explained as epiphenomena due to the nature of language change and language acquisition
Substance Abuse" and "Dysfunctionalism: Current Trends in Phonology
January 01 2000 “Substance Abuse” and “Dysfunctionalism”: Current Trends in Phonology In Special Collection: CogNet Mark Hale, Mark Hale Concordia University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Charles Reiss Charles Reiss Concordia University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Author and Article Information Mark Hale Concordia University Charles Reiss Concordia University Online ISSN:…
Quantification in structural descriptions: Attested and unattested patterns
This paper represents a contribution to the theory of 'substance free' phonology. The need for quantificational statements to express identity and nonidentity conditions in phonology entails the rejection of feature geometry. Feature geometric representation is insufficiently powerful, and must be replaced by an algebraic form of representation that allows the use of variables and indices for the purposes of identity checking. An attempt is made …
Accepting Markednesslessness: How Non-Phonological Symbolic Computation Shapes Trends in Attested Phonological Systems
Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society: General Session and Parasession on Phonetic Sources of Phonological Patterns: Synchronic and Diachronic Explanations (2003)
The Subset Principle in phonology: Why the tabula can't be rasa
We demonstrate the logical necessity of assuming innate knowledge for language acquisition using toy grammars. The implications are applied to reconceptualizing the Subset Principle in terms of features, rather than, say, segments. Both syntactic and phonological issues are discussed, but the focus is on the acquisition of phonological inventories. We point out that our logical arguments converge with recent empirical results
Deriving the Feature-Filling/Feature-Changing Contrast: An Application to Hungarian Vowel Harmony
The article explores an alternative to the interpretive procedure adopted in SPE and proposes a unified interpretive procedure for all languages. The proposal solves long-standing problems by making it unnecessary to refer to a third value of binary features [θF], to introduce negation into lexical representations (e.g., [NOT + rd]), or to introduce a feature filling/feature changing diacritic on rules.The article provides a metric for comparing …
The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Interfaces
'The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Interfaces' explores how the core components of the language faculty interact. This book shows how these interactions are reflected in linguistic & cognitive theory, considers what they reveal, & looks at their reflections in expression & communication.
Microvariation, variation, and the features of universal grammar
Targeting underspecified segments: A formal analysis of feature-changing and feature-filling rules
Cognitive Phonetics: The Transduction of Distinctive Features at the Phonology-Phonetics Interface
We propose that the interface between phonology and phonetics is mediated by a transduction process that converts elementary units of phonological computation, features, into temporally coordinated neuromuscular patterns, called 'True Phonetic Representations', which are directly interpretable by the motor system of speech production. Our view of the interface is constrained by substance-free generative phonological assumptions and by insights ga…
Towards a complete Logical Phonology model of intrasegmental changes
All changes to the internal structure of phonological segments arise from combinations of rules based on two set-theoretic operations: feature deletion by set subtraction and feature insertion by unification. Apparent cases of rules targeting underspecified segments reflect two kinds of vacuous rule application, one due to unification failure and the other due to vacuous unification. Despite this reduction of all segment-internal changes to two b…
Conquer primal fear: Phonological features are innate and substance-free
We argue that the representational primes of the human phonological faculty, the so-called distinctive features, are innate and substance-free. Our arguments for the innateness of features are built on traditional and novel logical arguments, experimental evidence accumulating over recent decades, and somewhat detailed proposals about their neurobiological reality. As symbols in the brain, features are substance-free, that is, they are devoid of …
Priority Union and Feature Logic in Phonology
Phonological rules built from a single operation, priority union, can model both feature-filling and feature-changing processes. The distinction is handled by specifying which argument of priority union is defeasible. Priority union should be considered as a candidate for inclusion in phonological Universal Grammar
Get rich quick: Why kids don't need Occam's Razor
Most phonologists assume that phonological processes are encoded in terms of natural classes defined by sets of features. Thus, children acquiring a phonological grammar need some way to determine the natural classes identifying target and trigger segments. Exactly how children solve this feature specification problem (FSP) is unknown. Many phonologists endorse the view that the feature specifications should be minimal in the sense of containing …
Linguistics (17 works) · Philosophy (17 works) · Computer Science (14 works) · Phonetics and Phonology Research (13 works) · Phonology (10 works) · Linguistic Variation and Morphology (7 works) · Artificial Intelligence (6 works) · Mathematics (6 works) · Natural language processing (6 works) · Phonological rule (6 works)