Constraint-governed rule application: principles underlying the application of phonological rules in San Jerónimo Mazatec

This paper presents a neogenerative analysis of the morphophonemic system of San Jerónimo Mazatec, which seeks to express generalizations that fail to be captured by a traditional generative analysis. In particular I shall show that principles of phonotactic motivation, metrical structure and rank, or consonantal strength are relevant to the application of morphophonemic rules. The phonological component can be drastically simplified if these principles are taken into account.