Phonology in Optimality Theory
Tone spreading and Span Theory
This research is on the typology of tonal phenomena, particularly those found in Bantu languages. McCarthy's (2004) Span Theory is extended to account for local and unbounded H tone spreading, downstep, and H tone shift/displacement.
Reference: Key, Michael (2007). "Headed Spans and Bantu tonology" In: L. Bateman et al. (eds.) University of Massachusetts Occasional Papers in Linguistics 32: Papers in Optimality Theory III. Amherst, Mass.: GLSA. 187-207. [Also available on the Rutgers Optimality Archive, ROA-809].
This paper is an analysis of leftward H tone spreading in Kinyore (Bantu, Kenya) and its sensitivity to the OCP and morphological domains. It assumes traditional autosegmental representations and two general-specific-related OCP constraints. A paper I wrote as an undergraduate and based on fairly little data, so read it sympathetically.
Reference: Key, Michael & Mokaya Bosire (2003). "Morphologically-conditioned OCP effects in Bantu tonology: Evidence from Kinyore"