markedness constraint en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmɑrkədnəs kənˈstɹeɪnt/
Etymology
From markedness + constraint.
Meanings
-
In Optimality Theory, universal features that languages prefer to keep unviolated.
the lack of codas is a markedness constraint that English violates, but Samoan keeps intact all the time.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| markedness constraints | Number=Plur | lexicographic |