Nonsyllabic analysis of voice assimilation in Polish

This article argues (1) that voice assimilation in Polish is governed by linear adjacency of Laryngeal nodes rather than by syllable structure, and (2) that [voice] should be regarded as binary, not privative. It is shown that past research has depended too heavily on the direct syllabic conditioning of voice assimilation. In reality, prosodic conditioning is indirect and is mediated by Sonorant Default. The correct application of several rules requires that adjacency be defined at the largyneal tier, which is possible only if [voice] is regarded as a binary rather than a privative feature.