Allomorph selection precedes phonology: Evidence from Yindjibarndi

Theories of the phonology-morphology interface can be differentiated by their claims regarding the timing of phonologically conditioned suppletive allomorphy (PCSA) and phonology. Some (e.g. Paster 2006; Embick 2010) argue that PCSA occurs in a morphological component of the grammar that precedes phonology; others (e.g. Kager 1996; Mascaró 2007; Smith 2015) argue that at least phonologically optimizing PCSA occurs in the phonological component of the grammar, in parallel with phonology. This paper discusses a case of apparently optimizing PCSA in Yindjibarndi (Pama-Nyungan, Wordick 1982), proposes an analysis in which suppletive allomorphy precedes phonology, and shows that the alternative – an analysis in which PCSA occurs in the phonological component of the grammar – should be dispreferred.