Obligatory Contour Principle: similarity as a principle in creating the contour
Obligatory Contour Principle: similarity as a principle in creating the contour

Summary/Abstract: The Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP) is the mechanism by which phonologists have tried to explain the avoidance of similar elements in language. Firstly, the OCP is discussed as a unit of phonological well-formedness in this article. Possible sequences of consonants at the edges of syllables are constrained by sonority therefore it is also studied in terms of sonority. However, in the article the OCP’s character is explored more exhaustively in relation to the principle of similarity that is said to be operative in creating the contour. It is a new direction of the OCP’s investigation where it is seen as part of general cognitive functions, in particular as a manifestation of a psychological phenomenon that is closely related to the perception of similarity. People tend to avoid similar objects in proximity as this undoubtedly slows the cognitive process. Therefore, the cognitive principle of similarity and its role in categorization processes is given a considerable attention in the article. The OCP effect is formalized by measuring similarity. For this reason, the method of investigation based on Pierrehumbert’s (1993) computational model of similarity is presented in the article. Using the discussed model the computation of similarity of the Lithuanian consonants has been done. The article is concluded by giving possible directions for future investigations for modelling the OCP effects in the Lithuanian language within the scope of similarity theory. The obtained results are expected to further prove that a cognitive principle of similarity is operative in creating the contour in the Lithuanian language.

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