• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.49
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• pp.275-301
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• 2017

Based on the previous analysis by Wanghongjun(2008), this paper applies Optimality Theory (OT) to the field of partial reduplication in Korea to increase its scientific validity. Toward this end, I propose an alternative analysis of Korean partial reduplication, applied as a single process of prefixation. Reduplicated words by prefixation are divided into two types: with a heavy syllable of the stem, and another with the stem. The two types of partial reduplication are closely related by the sound features. In addition, I discussed Chinese partial reduplication from a prefixation perspective within the framework of OT and performed contrastive analysis of Korean and Standard Chinese processes of reduplication by focusing on constrained rankings. As a result, the alternative analysis showed a systematic relationship among the reduplicated words in Korean and Standard Chinese. Lastly, I explained that the coronal /t/ and liquid /l/ have a special functional hierarchy in both languages. This study can be re-explained based on the framework of OT according to a few major constraints, involving MAX-BR, MAX-IO. Their rankings show the adequacy of analysis.