OT Analysis of Tri-consonantal Imperative Verbs in Standard Arabic

This study sheds light on imperative verbs in standard arabic. it discusses the different types of tri-consonantal imperative verbs within the ot framework, with focus on the epenthesis that takes place word- initially in these verbs. it is shown that an epenthetic /ʔi/ is inserted to satisfy *complex^ons when the verbal stem starts with a consonant cluster. the study also deals with certain verbs that are considered as exceptions. these verbs are initially glottalized verbs with /u/ vowel in the verbal stem. the study reveals that these verbs undergo deletion of a primary consonant with no epenthesis in order to satisfy glottal similarity* constraint that outranks max-io and dep-io.