Ausência de assimilação de vozeamento no português como L2 por anglófonos – uma análise via Teoria da Otimidade

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse within Optimality Theory framework (PRINCE; SMOLENSKY, 1993; MCCARTHY; PRINCE, 1995) the lack of regressive voicing assimilation in Portuguese as a second language by Anglophone speakers. It was demonstrated that the time of residence in Brazil was the most significant factor for the production of the voiced alveolar fricative – although variation persisted even within the data from more experienced learners, who had been living in the country for over ten years. Analysing the data within Optimality Theory constraint-based model, it was possible to attest the interaction between markedness effects and transfer of the English constraint ranking to the learners’ interlanguage.