Hiatus Resolution in Non-Rhotic English: An Optimality Theoretic Account

Abstract

Hiatus takes place when two vowels occur in adjacent syllables. Within the Optimality Theory (OT), hiatus-breaking has been a contentious and controversial topic which has been largely examined in phonology. This paper reviews, from a theoretical standpoint, hiatus resolution strategies under the lens of Optimality Theory and focuses on hiatus-breaking in non-rhotic English varieties. The theoretical evaluation of /r/, glides and glottal stops as potential epenthetic consonants reveals that the optimal candidate to resolve hiatus in non-rhotic English is /r/, such as /r/ intrusion or linking /r/ due to phonetic properties and sonority. Hence, the pronunciation of law is as [lɔ:rɪz] is not to be considered as a ‘mistake’,  as the insertion of /r/ can be phonologically explained.