A Constraint-Based Study on Flapping in English: A Lexical and Syllabic Approach

The purpose of the study is to provide the evidence for ambisyllabicity and explore constraints for flapping in American English. Highlighting the vital role of ambisyllabicity, intervocalic /t/ or /d/ becomes ambisyllabic in V́(V)_V environment within a (super)foot regardless of the domain difference, which triggers flapping. The constraints and the ranking for flapping are as follows: [CODAambi-]sf 》NO-CODA. In addition, generating an ambisyllabic element inevitably accompanies the change in the original syllable structure, the knowledge associated with (re)syllabification exists somewhere in universal grammar, which is addressed by setting up the syllabification device(SD) in the integrated phonology. Based on the research, it can be concluded that the intervocalic /t/ or /d/ is changed into [ɾ] when the alveolar stops are in V́(V)_V environment within the domain of a (super)foot and the knowledge on (re)syllabification should be surely regarded as a part of universal grammar.