Optimality of diminutive forms in modern standard Arabic

الملخص EN

Optimality is applied in this study to plan as well as diminutive forms of three-consonantal, four-consonantal and five-consonantal nouns in M.

S.

A.

Among the finding of the present study is the frequent violation of the markedness constraints (Cod) which reflects the existence of closed syllables in Arabic diminutive form.

Moreover, the markedness constraints (Ons) and (Nuc) and the faithfulness constraints (Fill Onc), (Fill Nuc) and (Parse) are neither violated by the plain forms not by the diminutive onse, which explains the absence of onset less syllables, syllables tacking nuclei, and deformed syllables that witness segmental deletion.