Verb morphology gone astray
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Marc-Olivier Hinzelin
Abstract
This article explores the phenomenon of syncretism in Gallo-Romance varieties from the perspective of the Autonomy of Morphology. Synchronically, syncretism is neither motivated by phonology nor by syntax. It is an obvious deviation from the canonical one-to-one relationship between form and meaning. I assume that syncretism divides into two types: ‘stable’ (or systematic) and ‘spontaneous’ (or accidental) syncretism. The distribution pattern of systematic syncretism is found in different conjugational classes and may also influence suppletion. These observations suggest that stable syncretism is not a mere surface phenomenon but that it rather provides insights into the morphological structure of a language. On this deeper level, specific recurrent patterns underlying the distribution of both syncretic and suppletive cells can be identified. These patterns are interpreted as a sign of an autonomous morphological component in grammar.
Abstract
This article explores the phenomenon of syncretism in Gallo-Romance varieties from the perspective of the Autonomy of Morphology. Synchronically, syncretism is neither motivated by phonology nor by syntax. It is an obvious deviation from the canonical one-to-one relationship between form and meaning. I assume that syncretism divides into two types: ‘stable’ (or systematic) and ‘spontaneous’ (or accidental) syncretism. The distribution pattern of systematic syncretism is found in different conjugational classes and may also influence suppletion. These observations suggest that stable syncretism is not a mere surface phenomenon but that it rather provides insights into the morphological structure of a language. On this deeper level, specific recurrent patterns underlying the distribution of both syncretic and suppletive cells can be identified. These patterns are interpreted as a sign of an autonomous morphological component in grammar.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Morphological theories, the Autonomy of Morphology, and Romance data 1
- A paradox? 27
- Verb morphology gone astray 55
- The Friulian subject clitics 83
- Romance clitic pronouns in lexical paradigms 119
- Hiatus resolution between function and lexical words in French and Italian 141
- Occitan plurals 179
- Partial or complete lack of plural agreement 201
- Noun inflectional classes in Maceratese 231
- Participles and nominal aspect 271
- Modifying suffixes in Italian and the Autonomy of Morphology 295
- SE -verbs, SE -forms or SE -constructions? SE and its transitional stages between morphology and syntax 319
- The lexicalist hypothesis and the semantics of event nominalization suffixes 347
- Italian brand names – morphological categorisation and the Autonomy of Morphology 369
- Author index 385
- Index of subjects and languages 389
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Morphological theories, the Autonomy of Morphology, and Romance data 1
- A paradox? 27
- Verb morphology gone astray 55
- The Friulian subject clitics 83
- Romance clitic pronouns in lexical paradigms 119
- Hiatus resolution between function and lexical words in French and Italian 141
- Occitan plurals 179
- Partial or complete lack of plural agreement 201
- Noun inflectional classes in Maceratese 231
- Participles and nominal aspect 271
- Modifying suffixes in Italian and the Autonomy of Morphology 295
- SE -verbs, SE -forms or SE -constructions? SE and its transitional stages between morphology and syntax 319
- The lexicalist hypothesis and the semantics of event nominalization suffixes 347
- Italian brand names – morphological categorisation and the Autonomy of Morphology 369
- Author index 385
- Index of subjects and languages 389
