Constraints Interaction in English Comparative Morphology: An Optimality Theory Analysis

Abstract

The prime objective of this paper is to provide a theoretical analysis of English comparative adjectives based on the Optimality Theory (OT). It concentrates on the functions of constraints interaction that the theory plays in the choice of surface forms of these types of adjectives. It is important to note that English is distinguished by two types of comparatives, synthetic and analytic. The synthetic adjectives are always formed by the addition of the suffix “-er”, resulting in forms such as “short” to “shorter.” The analytic ones are frequently formed by the juxtaposition of the free morpheme “more” word-initially, or “less”; e.g., “interesting” to “more interesting.” Comparative morphology also displays irregular forms where the root adjective is completely changed to a new lexical item, e.g., “good” to “better” and “bad” to “worse.” These manifestations are built on traditional theories limited to categorical distinctions like the number of syllables or the length of adjectives. However, traditional approaches remain deficient, as they cannot account for variations, gradient acceptability, and systematic blocking effects. Therefore, this study adopts the Optimality Theory as a framework that fits the current issue, claiming that English comparatives emerge from the interaction of constraints within the underlying grammar system. The most salient constraints governing these adjectives are markedness, faithfulness, and economy constraints. OT tableaux and analyses are provided to account for attested forms like “bigger,” “hapier,” and “more beautiful,” as well as unattested forms like “more bigger” and “interester,” along with irregular forms like “better” and “worse.”