Onset Weight with Branchingness Constraints: The Case of Pirahã

Abstract

In this paper we develop an analysis of onset-driven stress in Pirahã based on the idea that onsets can be parsed under the vocalic mora (Hyman type) or adjoin to the syllable node (Hayes type) depending on their sonority. We propose a set of constraints standing in stringency relations that prohibit branching structures in metrical dependent positions to account for the fact that syllables with voiceless onsets in Pirahã are the best stress attractors.