Avoiding stress on non-lexical material in nouns and verbs: predictable verb prosody in Serbo-Croatian stress standard varieties

Abstract We consider two asymmetries reported in the literature on word prosodic systems: tendency to allow more contrast nouns than verbs and avoid stress functional material. focus interaction between these tendencies propose a formal mechanism handle this couched Optimality Theory. In case study group of standard Serbo-Croatian varieties that have predictable but contrastive nouns, we develop an analysis morphologically conditioned assignment. Our features family constraints militating against non-lexical material three different levels: inflection proper ( *Infl-Stress- 1 ), locality domain 2 altogether 3 ). Analyzing class prosodically exceptional denominal borrowed verbs, show lexical-category effects exist within categories: preservation nominal stress, which leads additional verbs. Finally, explore option subsuming exceptionally contrast-preserving under offering arguments favor hotly debated view from are universally as .