Autosegmental Aims in Surface Optimizing Phonology

We develop a novel optimization approach to tone. Its grammatical component consists of the similarityand proximity-based correspondence constraint framework of Agreement by Correspondence theory (ABC). Its representational component (Q theory) decomposes segments (Q) into temporally ordered, quantized subsegments (q), which comprise unitary sets of distinctive features, including tone. ABC+Q unites phonological alternations and static lexical patterns, as illustrated with a programmatic survey of core tonal phenomena: assimilation, dissimilation, lexical tone melodies, and consonant-tone interaction. ABC+Q surmounts long-standing problems for autosegmental-era, multitiered representational approaches to tone, and unites tone and segmental phonology under the modern umbrella of correspondence theory.