The ɨ Deletion Rule and Phonologically Conditioned Allomorphy in Korean Case Markers

The present paper shows that the alternations found in Korean case markers are not motivated by optimization of phonological surface forms, contrary to previous studies. Also, using the framework of Distributed Morphology, I propose that nominative -i ~ -ka is suppletive allomorphy, but other alternations are morphophonological alternations, whose distributions are mostly explained by a general phonological rule in Korean, the ɨ deletion rule.