Root transparency and the morphology-meaning interface
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Batia Seroussi
Abstract
The paper concerns the structural factor of ‘root transparency’ in relation to the morphology-meaning interface in the mental lexicon of Hebrew. Semitic root structure was analyzed by comparing responses of native speakers of Hebrew on a set of written tasks. Target items included both nouns derived from transparent full triconsonantal roots (e.g. migdal “tower” from the root g-d-l) and nouns derived from more opaque defective biconsonantal roots (e.g. taxazit “forecast” from the root x-z-y). Responses to items based on full roots demonstrated that they were across-the-board more accessible and easier to process than their defective counterparts. Moreover, the difference between performance on items derived from full compared with defective roots was found to interface with phonology, semantics, and syntax, as well as with familiarity/frequency. These results indicate that root transparency plays an important and pervasive role in the mental lexicon of Hebrew.
Abstract
The paper concerns the structural factor of ‘root transparency’ in relation to the morphology-meaning interface in the mental lexicon of Hebrew. Semitic root structure was analyzed by comparing responses of native speakers of Hebrew on a set of written tasks. Target items included both nouns derived from transparent full triconsonantal roots (e.g. migdal “tower” from the root g-d-l) and nouns derived from more opaque defective biconsonantal roots (e.g. taxazit “forecast” from the root x-z-y). Responses to items based on full roots demonstrated that they were across-the-board more accessible and easier to process than their defective counterparts. Moreover, the difference between performance on items derived from full compared with defective roots was found to interface with phonology, semantics, and syntax, as well as with familiarity/frequency. These results indicate that root transparency plays an important and pervasive role in the mental lexicon of Hebrew.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
-
Editors’ introduction
- Morphology and meaning 3
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Plenary papers
- Roots, concepts, and word structure 49
- Between word formation and meaning change 71
- Indirect coding 97
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Section papers
- Diachrony and the polysemy of derivational affixes 127
- Possessive compounds in Slavic and the Principle of Integrated Meronymy 141
- Relation diversity and ease of processing for opaque and transparent English compounds 153
- Inflection vs. derivation 163
- Discrepancy between form and meaning in word-formation 177
- Compounds vs. phrases 191
- Semantic transparency, compounding, and the nature of independent variables 205
- The layering of form and meaning in creole word-formation 223
- Semantic headedness and categorization of - cum - compounds 239
- German plural doublets with and without meaning differentiation 249
- On the form and meaning of double noun incorporation 259
- Tuning morphosemantic transparency by shortening 275
- Root transparency and the morphology-meaning interface 289
- Mimetic verbs and meaning 303
- Mismatch verbs 315
- The canonical function of the deponent verbs in modern Greek 331
- Language index 345
- Subject index 347
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
-
Editors’ introduction
- Morphology and meaning 3
-
Plenary papers
- Roots, concepts, and word structure 49
- Between word formation and meaning change 71
- Indirect coding 97
-
Section papers
- Diachrony and the polysemy of derivational affixes 127
- Possessive compounds in Slavic and the Principle of Integrated Meronymy 141
- Relation diversity and ease of processing for opaque and transparent English compounds 153
- Inflection vs. derivation 163
- Discrepancy between form and meaning in word-formation 177
- Compounds vs. phrases 191
- Semantic transparency, compounding, and the nature of independent variables 205
- The layering of form and meaning in creole word-formation 223
- Semantic headedness and categorization of - cum - compounds 239
- German plural doublets with and without meaning differentiation 249
- On the form and meaning of double noun incorporation 259
- Tuning morphosemantic transparency by shortening 275
- Root transparency and the morphology-meaning interface 289
- Mimetic verbs and meaning 303
- Mismatch verbs 315
- The canonical function of the deponent verbs in modern Greek 331
- Language index 345
- Subject index 347
