Inflectional Morphology: A Theory of Paradigm Structure

by Gregory T. Stump

• ISBN13: 9780521024228
• ISBN10: 0521024226
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

A new contribution to linguistic theory, this book presents a formal framework for the analysis of word structure in human language. It sets forth the network of hypotheses constituting Paradigm Function Morphology, a theory of inflectional form whose central insight is that paradigms play an essential role in the definition of a language's system of word structure. The theory comprises several unprecedented claims, chief among which is the claim that a language's realization rules serve as clauses in the definition of a paradigm function, an overarching construct which is indispensable for capturing certain kinds of generalizations about inflectional form. This book differs from other recent works on the same subject in that it treats inflectional morphology as an autonomous system of principles rather than as a subsystem of syntax or phonology and it draws upon evidence from a diverse range of languages in motivating the proposed conception of word structure.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xii
List of abbreviations	xiv
Inferential--realizational morphology	1	(30)
Theories of inflectional morphology	1	(2)
Evidence favouring realizational theories over incremental theories	3	(6)
Minimizing unmotivated theoretical distinctions in inflectional morphology	9	(3)
The interface between syntax and inflectional morphology	12	(5)
On certain properties that make some affixes seem like syntactic objects	17	(10)
Conclusion	27	(4)
Paradigm functions	31	(31)
Paradigm Function Morphology	32	(2)
Bulgarian verb inflection	34	(4)
Morphosyntactic properties	38	(5)
Paradigms and paradigm functions	43	(1)
Realization rules and rule blocks	44	(3)
Morphophonological rules and morphological metageneralizations	47	(3)
Defining a language's paradigm function in terms of its realization rules	50	(7)
Summary and prospect	57	(5)
Rule competition	62	(34)
Two approaches to resolving rule competition	62	(1)
Evidence from Potawatomi	63	(6)
Evidence from Georgian	69	(3)
Two modes of application for realization rules	72	(1)
The Paninian approach is more restrictive than the rule-ordering approach	73	(2)
Generalizing over expansion schemata	75	(11)
Expansion metarules are not always reducible to argument hierarchies	86	(10)
Appendix: Analysis of a fragment of Potawatomi verb morphology	88	(8)
Headedness	96	(42)
Introduction	96	(3)
Headed morphological expressions	99	(4)
Four generalizations about head marking	103	(9)
The Head Operation Hypothesis	112	(2)
Head marking in PFM	114	(5)
Some apparent counterexamples to the PUG	119	(15)
The problem of word-to-stem derivatives	134	(1)
Conclusions	134	(4)
Rule blocks	138	(31)
Introduction	138	(1)
Portmanteau rule blocks	139	(5)
Parallel rule blocks	144	(5)
Reversible rule blocks	149	(7)
Rule blocks or feature discharge?	156	(11)
Conclusions	167	(2)
Stem alternations	169	(43)
Introduction	169	(4)
Stem-selection rules and morphological metageneralizations	173	(10)
Stem formation and stem indexing	183	(16)
Summary of the proposed theory of stem alternations	199	(3)
Some applications of the theory	202	(10)
Syncretism	212	(30)
Four types of syncretism	212	(6)
Rules of referral	218	(4)
Symmetrical syncretisms	222	(1)
Rule interactions involving rules of referral	223	(7)
Syncretism across paradigms	230	(5)
Restrictions on the incidence of syncretism	235	(7)
Conclusions, extensions, and alternatives	242	(35)
A synopsis of PFM	242	(4)
Beyond inflection	246	(14)
Alternatives	260	(17)
Notes	277	(15)
References	292	(9)
Index	301