Morphologically conditioned V-Ø alternation in Hebrew
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Outi Bat-El
Abstract
I argue in this paper that phonology plays a role in enhancing the distinction among the lexical categories. The argument is based on V alternation in the inflectional paradigms of CVCVC stems which varies in position and type of vowel depending on the lexical category. For example, adjectives exhibit a alternation in the penultimate syllable, while verbs in the final syllable. The Optimality Theoretic analysis reveals that the phonological difference among the lexical categories is minimal (one unique ranking of two constraints for each category), allowing a category distinction without a major increase in the complexity of the phonological system.
Abstract
I argue in this paper that phonology plays a role in enhancing the distinction among the lexical categories. The argument is based on V alternation in the inflectional paradigms of CVCVC stems which varies in position and type of vowel depending on the lexical category. For example, adjectives exhibit a alternation in the penultimate syllable, while verbs in the final syllable. The Optimality Theoretic analysis reveals that the phonological difference among the lexical categories is minimal (one unique ranking of two constraints for each category), allowing a category distinction without a major increase in the complexity of the phonological system.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Current issues in generative Hebrew linguistics 1
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Part I. The structure of the lexicon
- Morphologically conditioned V-Ø alternation in Hebrew 27
- The special status of nif'al in Hebrew 61
- Object gap constructions 77
- Active lexicon 105
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Part II. Grammatical features and inflectional morphology
- Definiteness agreement with PP modifiers 137
- Predication and equation in Hebrew (nonpseudocleft) copular sentences 161
- Morphological knowledge without morphological structure 197
- The interaction between question formation and verbal morphology in the acquisition of Hebrew 223
- On child subjects in a partially pro -drop language 245
- Resumptive pronouns as a last resort when movement is impaired 267
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Part III. Semantics, pragmatics and discourse
- Bare minimizers 293
- Hebrew negative polarity Items – šum and af 313
- A two-layered analysis of the Hebrew exceptive xuc mi 337
- Codifying apparent inconsistencies in discourse 353
- Index 389
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Current issues in generative Hebrew linguistics 1
-
Part I. The structure of the lexicon
- Morphologically conditioned V-Ø alternation in Hebrew 27
- The special status of nif'al in Hebrew 61
- Object gap constructions 77
- Active lexicon 105
-
Part II. Grammatical features and inflectional morphology
- Definiteness agreement with PP modifiers 137
- Predication and equation in Hebrew (nonpseudocleft) copular sentences 161
- Morphological knowledge without morphological structure 197
- The interaction between question formation and verbal morphology in the acquisition of Hebrew 223
- On child subjects in a partially pro -drop language 245
- Resumptive pronouns as a last resort when movement is impaired 267
-
Part III. Semantics, pragmatics and discourse
- Bare minimizers 293
- Hebrew negative polarity Items – šum and af 313
- A two-layered analysis of the Hebrew exceptive xuc mi 337
- Codifying apparent inconsistencies in discourse 353
- Index 389
