Home Linguistics & Semiotics Unification and separation in a functional theory of morphology
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Unification and separation in a functional theory of morphology

  • Javier Martín Arista
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
Investigations of the Syntax–Semantics–Pragmatics Interface
This chapter is in the book Investigations of the Syntax–Semantics–Pragmatics Interface

Abstract

This paper offers the initial design for a functional theory of morphology and addresses the question of how much unification or separation of domains and units is required in such a theory. Given that morphology is largely driven by principles that also rule syntax and semantics, the main thrust of this proposal is that the interaction between morphology and other areas of the theory can be adequately accounted for by the combination of three descriptive-explanatory resources: layered structures, templates and constructions. Other descriptiveexplanatory principles such as feature percolation and the characteristics of bases and adjuncts remain specifically morphological. Unification and separation in morphology must be carried out on functional grounds. Moreover, Old English evidence shows that no strict separation can be postulated, either between morphology and the rest of the theory or among the different morphological processes.

Abstract

This paper offers the initial design for a functional theory of morphology and addresses the question of how much unification or separation of domains and units is required in such a theory. Given that morphology is largely driven by principles that also rule syntax and semantics, the main thrust of this proposal is that the interaction between morphology and other areas of the theory can be adequately accounted for by the combination of three descriptive-explanatory resources: layered structures, templates and constructions. Other descriptiveexplanatory principles such as feature percolation and the characteristics of bases and adjuncts remain specifically morphological. Unification and separation in morphology must be carried out on functional grounds. Moreover, Old English evidence shows that no strict separation can be postulated, either between morphology and the rest of the theory or among the different morphological processes.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors ix
  4. Part I. Introduction by the Editor
  5. Editor's introduction xv
  6. Part II. Verbs, argument structure and transitivity
  7. "Saying" verbs in Spanish 3
  8. Split intransitivity in Japanese revisited 23
  9. Reintroducing inverse constructions in Japanese 37
  10. Transitivity in Kabardian 59
  11. Ditransitive constructions: Towards a new Role and Reference Grammar account? 75
  12. Fluid transitivity and generalized semantic roles 101
  13. Part III. Syntactic and morphological categories
  14. Unification and separation in a functional theory of morphology 119
  15. Modality in RRG 147
  16. RPs and the nature of lexical and syntactic categories in Role and Reference Grammar 161
  17. “Floating plurals”, prodrop and agreement – an optimality-based RRG approach 179
  18. Where is the precore slot? Mapping the layered structure of the clause and German sentence topology 203
  19. Part IV. Syntax, pragmatics and prosody
  20. A prosodic projection for Role and Reference Grammar 227
  21. Is Role and Reference Grammar an adequate grammatical theory for punctuation? 245
  22. The interplay of focus structure and syntax 263
  23. How missing is the missing verb? 285
  24. Predication and reference in specificational sentences – functions of English noun phrases 305
  25. Part V. The analysis of complex sentences
  26. Alternative expressions of 'want' complements 321
  27. An RRG approach to French complementation patterns 337
  28. Complementizer-gap phenomena 359
  29. Wari’ Intentional State Constructions 381
  30. Part VI. Neurolinguistic and computational aspects of RRG
  31. Unmarked transitivity 413
  32. Parsing for Role and Reference Grammar 435
  33. A Role-Lexical Module (RLM) for Biblical Hebrew 455
  34. Index of languages 479
  35. Index of subjects 481
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.105.12mar

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors ix
  4. Part I. Introduction by the Editor
  5. Editor's introduction xv
  6. Part II. Verbs, argument structure and transitivity
  7. "Saying" verbs in Spanish 3
  8. Split intransitivity in Japanese revisited 23
  9. Reintroducing inverse constructions in Japanese 37
  10. Transitivity in Kabardian 59
  11. Ditransitive constructions: Towards a new Role and Reference Grammar account? 75
  12. Fluid transitivity and generalized semantic roles 101
  13. Part III. Syntactic and morphological categories
  14. Unification and separation in a functional theory of morphology 119
  15. Modality in RRG 147
  16. RPs and the nature of lexical and syntactic categories in Role and Reference Grammar 161
  17. “Floating plurals”, prodrop and agreement – an optimality-based RRG approach 179
  18. Where is the precore slot? Mapping the layered structure of the clause and German sentence topology 203
  19. Part IV. Syntax, pragmatics and prosody
  20. A prosodic projection for Role and Reference Grammar 227
  21. Is Role and Reference Grammar an adequate grammatical theory for punctuation? 245
  22. The interplay of focus structure and syntax 263
  23. How missing is the missing verb? 285
  24. Predication and reference in specificational sentences – functions of English noun phrases 305
  25. Part V. The analysis of complex sentences
  26. Alternative expressions of 'want' complements 321
  27. An RRG approach to French complementation patterns 337
  28. Complementizer-gap phenomena 359
  29. Wari’ Intentional State Constructions 381
  30. Part VI. Neurolinguistic and computational aspects of RRG
  31. Unmarked transitivity 413
  32. Parsing for Role and Reference Grammar 435
  33. A Role-Lexical Module (RLM) for Biblical Hebrew 455
  34. Index of languages 479
  35. Index of subjects 481
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 16.1.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/slcs.105.12mar/html
Scroll to top button