Pre- and Protomorphology

Early Phases of Morphological Development in Nouns and Verbs
Maria D. Voeikova & Wolfgang U. Dressler (eds.)
University of Vienna

This volume presents the intermediate results of the international "Crosslinguistic Project on Pre- and Protomorphology in Language Acquisition” co-ordinated by Wolfgang U. Dressler in behalf of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. It continues the series of publications started with Dressler & Karpf 1995, Dressler 1997, Dziubalska-Kolaczyk 1997, Gillis 1998, Bittner, Dressler and Kilani-Schoch 2000 as well as individual publications of the project participants. About the project – take the introduction from Dressler (manuscript for San Sebastian).

The book includes several introductory chapters (Dressler & Kilani-Schoch, Stephany, Voeikova) written by the project co-ordinators on the base of the written reports of participants and several studies on the acquisition of noun and verb morphology in the transitory phase from pre- to protomorphology (for definitions see Bittner, Dressler and Kilani-Schoch 2000: 3 ff.) and in the protomorphological phase in eight languages (German, Finnish, French, Yucatec Maya, Italian, Lithuanian, Russian and Spanish). Both inflectional and derivational morphology is observed in nouns, including such topics as compounding, diminutive formation, case and number distinctions. Verbs are described from the point of view of inflectional morphology and agreement.

Case vs. number and person – heterogeneous. Number and person - crosslinguistically – the difference is in the type of marking and shape (more patterns, inflectional classes etc. vs. phonological harmony). The set of forms is comparable.

Case – the set of forms is hardly comparable without grouping. Big number of forms in the paradigm does not aggravate their acquisition if there are no inflectional classes. On the other hand, small number of distinct inflectional forms, analytical marking, other means to express case distinctions may slow the process.

Table of contents:

Maria Voeikova (Saint Petersburg, Vienna) & Wolfgang U. Dressler (Vienna): Introduction
Ursula Stephany (Cologne): Early development of grammatical number – a typological perspective
Maria Voeikova (Saint Petersburg, Vienna): The acquisition of case in typologically different languages
Marianne Kilani-Schoch (Lausanne) & Wolfgang U. Dressler (Vienna): The emergence of inflectional paradigms in two French corpora: an illustration of general problems of pre- and protomorphology
Sabine Klampfer & Katharina Korecky-Kröll (Vienna): Nouns and verbs at the transition from pre- to protomorphology: a longitudinal case study on Austrian German
Barbara Pfeiler (Merida): Noun and verb acquisition in Yucatec Maya.
Klaus Laalo (Tampere): Acquisition of case in Finnish: a preliminary overview...
Ineta Savickiene (Kaunas): The emergence of case distinctions in Lithuanian
Maria Voeikova (Saint Petersburg, Vienna) & Natalia Gagarina (Berlin): Early syntax, first lexicon and the acquisition of case forms by two Russian children
Anna de Marco (Cosenza): The development of diminutives in Italian: input and acquisition
Victoria Marrero (Madrid), María José Albalá (Madrid) & Ignacio Moreno (Málaga): Use of diminutives by children and adults in Spanish. A preliminary analysis
Carmen Aguirre (Vienna): The acquisition of tense and aspect morphology: a key for semantic interpretation
Zrinka Jelaska, Melita Kovacevic & Maja Andel (Zagreb): Morphology and semantics – the basis of Croatian case
Authors' page

ISBN 9783895864681. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 29. 200pp. 2002.

Future Challenges for Natural Linguistics

Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kolaczyk & Jaroslaw Weckwerth (eds.)
Adam Mickiewicz University

The purpose of this volume is to stir discussion and stimulate comments which may eventually result in Natural Linguistics re-asserting itself more widely in the present-day arena of linguistic frameworks. A global future challenge for Natural Linguistics is to demonstrate its epistemological potential to new audiences in a convincing and informative manner. It is hoped that this volume may serve two functions: to unite natural linguists in their research and to encourage others to become involved in a Natural Linguistic framework.

Among the thirteen papers constituting the volume, the reader will find contributions to phonology, phonetics, morphology, and text, as well as reference to such areas of external evidence as first language acquisition, language change, phonostylistics, dialectal variation, psycholinguistics, speech pathology and evolution. Considered issues include: functional explanation and dysfunctions, markedness and complexity, phonological categoriality and phonetic gradience, semiotic underpinnings of linguistic explanations, the uses and meanings of naturalness, morphological productivity, typological vs. language-specific nature of morphological priming, criteria for nativization of loanwords, and development of compositionality in the phylogenesis of language.

ISBN 9783895863080. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 30. 280pp. 2002.

The Microstructure of Lexicon-Grammar-Interaction:

A Study of “Gold“ in English and Arabic

Leila Behrens & Hans-Juergen Sasse
Universität zu Köln

This books presents an entirely new approach in cross-linguistic research. Aiming at a typological comparison of the interaction between lexicon and grammar in English and two varieties of Arabic (Standard and Egyptian Arabic), the authors proceed from fine-grained analyses of single lexical families rather than lexical fields or grammatical categories. Using the family of English gold and the corresponding Arabic families dahab and dahab as an exemplary case study, they compare lexical-semantic, morphosyntactic, and discourse-pragmatic properties of the microstructure of these families in a very detailed fashion. As amply demonstrated throughout this book, the microstructural method enables the linguist to capture subtle hidden properties revealing evidence for fundamental cross-linguistic differences that cannot be arrived at on the basis of coarse-grained macrostructural typologies. The microstructural approach is crucially associated with a corpus-based method of data acquisition and a multidimensional framework of representation.

Leila Behrens is specialized in semantics (e.g. ambiguity, genericity), lexicon-grammar interaction, and questions of representation in a cross-linguistic research context. Hans-Jürgen Sasse is a typologist with particular interest in linguistic categorization. He is specialized in Afroasiatic languages, including Arabic.

ISBN 9783895868719. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 32. 310pp. 2003.

Birds, Colours and Prepositions

The Theory of Categorization and its Applications in Linguistics

Paula López Rúa
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

This book is first about categorization and then about linguistic categorization. On the one hand, it gives answers to both general and specific questions about that process (what is categorization for? Is it exclusively human, or exclusively adult? Are categories like bird, blue, furniture, bald, love, mother or subject similar in any way?). On the other hand, it intends to offer a comprehensive, up-to-date view of the alternatives and tools available for the study of categorization in linguistics. The first part of the book is devoted to a detailed account of theoretical foundations and terminological distinctions (for instance, category vs. concept, or concept vs. word vs. object). The second part comprises a comparative analysis of the two major approaches to the study of categorial conception, description and representation: the discrete approach (the classical view) and the non-discrete approach, where the principles of prototype theory are developed. Both perspectives are described, exemplified and evaluated, and the main conclusion drawn from the analysis is the need to consider both the researcher's purpose and the nature of the object of study as determinant factors for the selection of a descriptive tool, be it discrete or non-discrete.

ISBN 9783895867606. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 33. 250pp. 2003

A Reduced Theory of Theta-Role and Case Assignment and Binding

D. Moss
University of Gdansk

This work attempts to reduce the number of mechanisms used in generative grammar to explain the design of human language. Up to now, generative linguistics has separated Binding, Case assignment and Theta-Role assignment into three separate sub-theories. Each of the sub-theories worked independently using its own set of rules and relations. In this thesis, Michael Moss shows that all three sub-theories can be reduced to one, namely binding. In order to achieve this reduction, first binding must be simplified to explain PRO phenomena without resorting to government.

Once the binding definition is simplified to c-command and co-indexation, the other two components must be shown to also comply with this definition. Using mechanisms proposed in the minimalist program, theta-role assignment is shown to accord with the above definition. Finally, using Agree as proposed in the recent literature (Chomsky 2000), Case assignment is also shown to function under the same rules as binding. In the last chapter, an attempt is made to show that Agree can be used as the driving force behind all three of these reduced relations.

ISBN 9783895867613. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 34. 160pp.

Ontological Questions in Linguistics

Jan W.F. Mulder & Paul Rastall
St. Andrews University;University of Portsmouth

Mulder and Rastall argue for a reduced ontological commitment in linguistics, which is strongly opposed to many prevailing contemporary views. In line with current views in the philosophy of science they view linguistic theories and descriptions as explanatory constructs without existential claims. They distinguish between actually existing speech events, different orders of "reality" and explanatory/theoretical constructs following philosophers such as Popper and Harre. Mulder develops his views in the context of his axiomatic functionalist approach and Rastall argues that linguistic entities should be viewed as "powers" in Locke's sense rather than as "things".

Both authors argue that the reification of linguistic entities is misleading and propose views which are close to those of Quine and earlier linguists such as Hjelmslev. The work is in four theoretically oriented chapters concerned with the nature of the ontological problem, speech events as "powers", events and constructs, and orders of reality as well as three applications to linguistic theory and analysis involving Mulder's well-developed axiomatic functionalism in the context of ontological issues. Jan W.F. Mulder is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at St. Andrews University. He is the author of numerous articles in professional journals, book chapters and is the author of Sets and Relations in Phonology and Foundations of Axiomatic Linguistics. He is the co-author (with S.G.J. Hervey) of The Theory of the Linguistic Sign and The Strategy of Linguistics. Mulder is the originator and main developer of axiomatic functionalism and is the Honorary President of the International Society of Functional Linguistics.

Paul Rastall is Principal Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Portsmouth. He is the author of numerous articles in professional journals and of three books, Empirical Phonology and Cartesian Tables, A Functional View of English Grammar and A Linguistic Philosophy of Language.

ISBN 9783895864612. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 35. 160pp. 2005.

The Power of Speech

Paul Rastall
University of Portsmouth

Following from Ontological Questions in Linguistics (2005) by Mulder and Rastall, The Power of Speech adopts a functional perspective to address a range of fundamental issues concerned with our understanding of speech acts and the role of theory, systems, and other constructs in our account. In particular, the work explores the ideas that acts of speaking are “powers” in the philosophical sense and that “meaning” exists only in actual speech acts. Applying a rigorous ontological distinction between actually existing speech events in space, time and social circumstances, and theoretically determined constructs accounting for speech events and their aspects, the work distinguishes real communication from accounts of potentials for communication and potentials for meaning on the one hand, and from socially constructed beliefs about language on the other.

The work further explores Popper’s views on the nature of language. It distinguishes language as communication from language as system or pattern and from language as information. For the latter the capacity to “arrest” speech and to consider it critically is central to understanding the role of linguistic mediation in rationality. However, by placing language in a biological and evolutionary context the work revisits the analogy/anomaly debate and emphasises the evidence for a more balanced and organic view of language along with its systematic features. The work draws attention to the need to explain the adaptation of linguistic constructs to ever-changing human needs and priorities and suggests some solutions.

ISBN 9783895864797. LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 36. 115pp. 2006.

Morphologie à Toulouse

Actes du colloque international de morphologie 4èmes Décembrettes

Nabil Hathout, Fabio Montermini (éds)
ERSS-CNRS

Le volume contient une sélection des communications présentées lors du colloque international de morphologie « 4èmes Décembrettes », organisé par l’ERSS (UMR 5610), et qui a eu lieu à l’Université de Toulouse – le Mirail les 1 et 2 décembre 2005. Les articles qui le constituent sont représentatifs de la variété d’approches et de préoccupations qu’on rencontre dans les études actuelles sur la morphologie linguistique. Ils le sont aussi des liens multiples que cette discipline entretient avec les autres domaines d’étude de la linguistique (phonologie, syntaxe, sémantique, etc.). Bien que le français y occupe une place importante, l’éventail des langues étudiées est toutefois large (espagnol, portugais, dialectes italo-romans, maltais, italien, serbe, grec, allemand, pour ne citer que les principales). Il témoigne de l’extrême vitalité de ce domaine de recherche. Les contributions sont réparties en trois volets principaux. La première partie comprend des articles consacrés à la morphologie flexionnelle et à l’allomorphie, en prenant en compte tant les aspects morphophonologiques (Cabré & Ohannesian ; Brandão de Carvalho & Russo ; David ; Gaglia) que l’interface avec la syntaxe (Meinschaefer ; Miličević). La deuxième partie se compose de contributions traitant de la morphologie constructionnelle ; la gamme des phénomènes étudiés est large. On y retrouve des articles consacrés à la suffixation (Dal), à la préfixation (Apothéloz ; Sgroi), ou à la composition (Namer) dans des langues spécifiques, mais aussi des articles qui proposent des comparaisons interlinguistiques sur des aspects plus généraux (Ralli ; Schwarze). La troisième partie, enfin, contient des études sur des problèmes liés à la morphologie dans une perspective cognitive (Pirrelli) et psycholinguistique, qui traitent de problèmes centraux pour ces approches comme l’acquisition (Casalis, Quémart, Colé) et la productivité (Meunier, Dal, Fradin, Hathout).

Hiatus et diphtongues croissantes dans le paradigme verbal espagnol
Teresa Cabré (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona)
Maria Ohannesian (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona)

Apophonie et analogie. Comment la supplétion peut-elle être productive ?
Joaquim Brandão de Carvalho (UMR 7023, CNRS & Université de Paris 8)
Michela Russo (UMR 7023, CNRS & Université de Paris 8)

Les marques de nombre sur le nom maltais
Karine David (UMR 7118 Atilf, CNRS & Université de Nancy 2)

Vowel alternation within the verbal root of Campanian: between phonology and morphology
Sascha Gaglia (Universität Konstanz)

La troncation des voyelles finales en Italien et ses conséquences pour l’interface entre phonologie, morphologie et lexique
Judith Meinschaefer (Universität Konstanz)

Co-occurrence of Serbian second position clitics: syntactic and morphonological constraints
Jasmina Miličević (French Department, Dalhousie University / OLST, Université de Montréal)

Les adverbes de manière en –ment du français : dérivation ou flexion ?
Georgette Dal (UMR 8528 STL, CNRS & Universités de Lille 3 et Lille 1)

Procès centrifuge et procès centripète : re-, des- et l’antonymie directionnelle en français
Denis Apothéloz (UMR 7118 Atilf, CNRS & Université de Nancy 2)

Qu’est-ce qu’un préfixe ?
Salvatore Claudio Sgroi (Università di Catania)

Composition néoclassique : est-on dans l’ « hétéromorphosémie » ?
Fiammetta Namer (UMR 7118 Atilf, CNRS & Université de Nancy 2)

Compound marking in a cross-linguistic approach
Angela Ralli (University of Patras)

La notion de règle morphologique et les mots complexes non construits
Christoph Schwarze (Universität Konstanz)

On the cognitive autonomy of language morphology
Vito Pirrelli (Istituto di Linguistica Computazionale, CNR Pisa / Dipartimento di Linguistica, Università di Pavia)

Activation de l’information morphologique au cours de la reconnaissance de mots chez les apprentis lecteurs et dyslexiques
Séverine Casalis (EA 1059 Ureca, Université de Lille 3)
Pauline Quémart (EA 1059 Ureca, Université de Lille 3)
Pascale Colé (UMR 5105 Laboratoire Psychologie et Neurocognition, CNRS & Université de Savoie)

Rôle de la productivité morphologique dans la reconnaissance de lexèmes complexes
Fanny Meunier (UMR 5596, CNRS & Université de Lyon 2)
Georgette Dal (UMR 8528 STL, CNRS & Universités de Lille 3 et Lille 1)
Bernard Fradin (UMR 7110 LLF, CNRS & Université de Paris 7)
Nabil Hathout (UMR 5610 ERSS, CNRS & Université de Toulouse – le Mirail)

ISBN 9783895865046 (Hardbound). LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 37. 315pp. 2007.

Analogy

The Relation between Lexicon and Grammar

Iwona Kraska-Szlenk
University of Warsaw

This book examines the mechanism of analogy in the context of language use and from the perspective of the Optimality Theoretic formal model. It is argued that both kinds of analogy, paradigmatic leveling and proportional (pattern) analogy, strongly correlate with type and token frequency and are also dependant on semantic distance between the base and its correspondent.

The argument is supported by a detailed case study of vocalic alternations in Polish using synchronic and diachronic evidence. The second part of this work concentrates on factors other than frequency which may cause or prevent analogical developments. Illustrative linguistic material comes from a variety of languages including Polish, Swahili, Arabic and English.

The study stresses the active role of lexicon in shaping language grammar. Due to the dynamic character of lexicon-grammar interaction, analogical changes are not only interpretable, but to some extent predictable from historical and synchronic facts. The data discussed in the book provide also evidence that an abstract concept of language grammar does not directly emerge from usage statistics, but is only motivated by it and mediated through the process of phonologization.

ISBN 9783895868986 (Hardbound). LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 38. 216pp. 2007.

Studies in voice and transitivity (Estudios de voz y transitividad)

edited by

Zarina Estrada Fernández (University of Sonora)
Søren Wichmann (MPI-EVA & Leiden University)
Claudine Chamoreau (CELIA-CNRS)
& Albert Álvarez González (University of Sonora)

In this collection of papers the phenomenon of voice is addressed both synchronically and diachronically, and both typological (or areal) perspectives as well as studies of individual languages are represented. The majority of contributions in the latter category discuss Uto-Aztecan languages, but treatments of other languages, such as Purépecha and Mapuche, are also included.

Although all authors share an over-all functional perspective, different approaches nevertheless emerge. For instance, among the typological papers, one views the passive construction through a prototype approach (Comrie); another characterizes the passive as a family of constructions that have different diachronic origins, whose footprints are often still discernible but which are nevertheless united by common functional motivations (Givón); a third approach defines a canonical type of passive with the aim of explaining the consistent absence of this particular type in so-called ‘active’ languages (Wichmann). Some major themes in the individual language studies are patterns of grammaticalization and issues of iconicity. A conclusion that cross-cuts the entire volume is that insights into constructions involving valency change are best achieved through both detailed descriptive work spanning the lexical and syntactic domains as well as through a view to historical developments; in short, a panchronic approach is recommended.

Table of contents

Introduction

General

What is a Passive?
BERNARD COMRIE

On the relational properties of passive clauses: A diachronic perspective
T. GIVÓN

Valency-reduction in event-oriented languages
SØREN WICHMANN

Case studies in Uto-Aztecan and other languages

Participios estativos en yaqui y mecanismos de detransitivización
ALBERT ÁLVAREZ GONZÁLEZ

Antipasivas en español. Forma y función
SERGIO BOGARD

Derivación causativa en toba
MARISA CENSABELLA

Looking for a new participant. The Purepecha passive
CLAUDINE CHAMOREAU

Causatives and applicatives in Pima Bajo:
The interplay of the causative and the applicative in sociative causation
ZARINA ESTRADA FERNÁNDEZ

The passive in the Taracahitic languages Yaqui, Warihio and Tarahumara
ROLANDO FÉLIX ARMENDÁRIZ

La voz media en la lengua mapuche
ANA FERNÁNDEZ GARAY

Yaqui causation: its form-function interface
LILIÁN GUERRERO

Index of languages and language families
Index of authors
Index of subjects

ISBN 9783895861000 (Hardcover). LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 39. 246pp. 2007.