The onset in Somali syllable structure provokes considerable argument among scholars who are interested in the syllable structure in this language. Owrin (1996) and Saeed (1999) agree that segmental-filling in the onset position is mandatory in this language whereas Zetterholm and Tronnier (2012) state that segmental-filling in the onset position is as optional as in the coda in this language. Therefore, this research is to investigate whether onsets in Somali syllable structure are mandatory or optional in light of Optimality Theory (OT), as a framework.
