This book presents 15 chapters that are all concerned with the role of the syllable in Optimality Theory. The idea for this book arose during a conference with the same theme held from June 30 to July 2, 1998 in Tübingen, Germany. During this conference it was felt that a book about the role of the syllable in a relatively new theory of grammar was necessary. Apart from the participants of the conference a number of phonologists were invited to contribute to the book to do justice to the many different aspects of the syllable.

The financial support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Seminar für Sprachwissenschaft at the University of Tübingen, which made the conference possible, is gratefully acknowledged.

We want to thank Christine Bartels sincerely for her help and encouragement. Many thanks are also due to Kay Steinmetz and Helen Wheeler.

Regine Eckardt made the illustrations, sacrificing much of her free time. Her efforts are greatly appreciated by the editors.

This book would not have been possible without the help of anonymous reviewers and many Studentische Hilfskräfte. We want to thank them all.