[e, e, e]: La Solution Paracyclique

The article presents a critical review of the various solutions that have been proposed, within the framework of generative phonology, regarding the problem of the morphophonological relations between the sounds [e, e, e] in French. In order to remedy the flaws in the above mentioned approaches that have been examined, a new model is developped, which may be considered as an extension of lexical phonology, invented by Kiparsky (1982) and Mohanan (1984). The model makes use of paracyclic rules beside the cyclic rules. It will be demonstrated that the recourse to paracyclic rules offers some advantages with respect to the postcyclic rules advocated by Booij & Rubach (1984, 1987).