2025년 7월 10일(목) 16:30–18:00, 한양대학교 인문과학관 3층 316호에서 서울대학교 김영준 박사(MIT PhD)를 초청하여 강연이 열렸습니다.
Title: Solving Opacity through the Lens of Phonetics
Abstract: In this talk, I argue that phonological opacity is not an arbitrary grammatical phenomenon but a natural consequence of the grammar’s faithfulness to detailed phonetic representations. Building on the insight that categorical phonology often arises from the extension of phonetic tendencies, I propose that opaque interactions emerge when the grammar prioritizes faithfulness to an output of phonetic implementation that serves as the effective input to phonological computation. This model, centered on a principle of Phonetic Faithfulness, explains why opaque processes closely mirror natural phonetic adjustments, a pattern confirmed by a cross-linguistic typological survey. The validity of this claim is further supported by the presence of phonetic-level opacity (e.g., incomplete neutralization). In addition, a computational simulation demonstrates the model’s learnability. This approach offers a unified explanation for opacity, grounding it firmly in the phonetics-phonology interface.