Dirk Elzinga wrote:
> Ray:
>
> You might want to point out the errors in the Greek entry to the
> maintainers of the database.
I have done so.
> If the database is to be at all useful,
> it should be checked and re-checked by people who are knowledgeable. I
> notice that their source for many of the stress patterns is Hayes
> 1995. I find this rather ironic, since Hayes has this to say about
[snip]
> That last was probably written tongue-in-cheek, but it is a fair
> point, and one which should be made to the maintainers of the
> database.
I have pointed this out to them. I think they are very unwise to include
entries just based on Hayes 1995 without at least referring to his sources.
> For what it's worth, I just looked in Hayes 1995, and of Ancient Greek
> he says (p 181): "Ancient Greek [has Fijian-like stress] in the
Thanks - it doesn't change my opinion :)
> According to Hayes, in Modern Greek "Main stress is lexically
> determined; limited to one of the last three syllables." (p 204)
Yep - it is limited to one of the last three syllables. I think it would
be more accurate to say it is lexically & morphologically determined.
One thing is certain: it is not in any way conditioned by syllabic
weight. Clearly a Syllable Priority Code is not going to work for modern
Greek.
My own feeling is that using a SPC to describe every language with word
stress is not going to work. It is perhaps significant that the database
does not include modern Greek. If it is really going to be a Stress
System Database, then it seems to me that it will have to use a code
system that includes languages where syllabic weight is not relevant to
stress. IMO at present it does not use a systematic way to describe all
stress systems.
--
Ray
==================================
ray@carolandray.plus.com
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
==================================
Nid rhy hen neb i ddysgu.
There's none too old to learn.
[WELSH PROVERB}