Root-affix asymmetries in Iranian Balochi dialects: an optimality approach

This article attempts to identify the root-affix asymmetries in three Iranian Balochi dialects (IBDs) (Mirjaveh Sarhaddi Balochi (MSB), Sarawani Balochi (SB) and Lashari Balochi (LB)). All inflectional and derivation affixes found in IBDs are examined against the Babyee’s (2005) hypotheses. In addition, the analyses of these asymmetries are represented based on Optimality Theory, comparative tableau (Prince 2000). The data have been collected during a research fieldwork in Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran. The research findings illustrate that there are phoneme restrictions in the phonological structure of affixes, indeed, affixes select the set of less marked phonemes in comparison with roots, also the morpheme shapes in affixes are simple, while roots allow the consonant clusters both in initial and final positions, no complex onsets or codas are seen in the syllable structure of affixes. Moreover, in the constraint rankings, the faithfulness constraint namely FAITH ROOT is considered as an undominated constraint to support the idea that roots intend to have more contrasts.