Current phonological theory resorts to a large set of different, usually competing mechanisms to derive assimilatory processes (Search and Copy, Spreading, in derivational frameworks; Align, Agree, Share, and Agreement by Correspondence in Optimality Theory (OT); and others; see Nevins 2010, McCarthy 2011, Gafos and Dye 2011, Walker 2012). One important property that has been attributed to unbounded spreading is myopia (Wilson 2004, 2006, Finley 2008, Nevins 2010: chaps. 4, 6, McCarthy 2011). In a contribution to this journal, Walker (2010) focuses on a complementary issue: whether bounded harmony obeys myopia. Adopting Wilson’s (2006:9) definition for unbounded spreading, the affirmative answer can be defined as in (1).
Walker (2010:169–170) holds the opposite view, which can be worded as in (2).
Walker claims that there exist cases of harmony in which “adjacent segments undergo assimilation only when a...