Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to indicate that feature geometry theory (FGT) suggested by Clements (1985), Sagey (1986) and others is adequate to the explanation of assimilation in diachronic sound change. Archangeli & Pulleyblank propose that, by using “minimal scansion”(applicable at the level of the appropriate hierachical tier) or “maximal scansion” (applicable at the syllable level), vowel harmony and consonant harmony can be explained by spreading of distinctive features without violating “locality condition”. With respect to nasal assimilation, I show that “assimilation-at-a-distance” arising from Middle English (ME) to Modern English (ModE) stated in Jespersen (1914) is happily explained by the spreading of the distinctive feature [-cor], using “moraic scansion” and related to “Lexical Diffusion” suggested by Wang (1969).