Epenthesis and Markedness

This paper develops an analysis of epenthesis as a universal syllable-based process in which syllable boundaries arise through the application of markedness constraints on consonant sequences at the level of lexical representation. The purpose of the analysis is to show that, universally, epenthesis occurs in order to create nuclear material for “stranded” consonants, that is, for consonants which are separated from any vocalic material because of constraints on the placement of syllable boundaries. The analysis also explains where epenthesis occurs: either to the left or the right of a syllabically isolated consonant, where direction is dependent on the existence or nonexistence of a language specific constraint on resyllabification.