In this term paper I examine several approaches to the bundling of both morphological and phonological rules, which is commonly referred to as stratification and which is the basis for the lexical morphology and phonology model. Therefore I first introduce the idea of strata with respect to their respective tasks and the order which they usually appear in (section 2). In the following I show up the first (minor) challenges within the model that eventually help to refine it (section 3). Furthermore I display problems that have not yet been solved, meaning inconsistencies within the stratification processes as they have been introduced (section 4). Right before the conclusion I briefly introduce a different approach (by Goldsmith 1990), which contradicts most of the remarks in the previous sections, but can eventually be refuted quite easily (section 5). In the conclusion I point out that the lexical morphology and phonology model has its problems (like probably nearly any other linguistic theory), but is most likely to be the most appropriate model for this motivation.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Word formation processes and lexical strata
2.1 Introducing affixes
2.2 Introducing lexical strata
2.3 Prefixes
2.4 Assignments of lexical strata
2.4.1 Productivity and irregular inflection at stratum 1
2.4.2 Regular inflection at stratum 2
2.5 The order of strata to apply
3. The refinement of the lexical phonology and morphology model
3.1 Blocking, lexical integrity and the Elsewhere Condition
3.2 Compounding
3.3 The order of processes within strata
3.4 The amount of required strata
3.4.1 The most prominent approaches
3.4.2 The Strict Cycle Condition
3.4.3 Step-by-step confrontation
4. Yet unsolvable problems within the model
4.1 "Multi-stratum" affixes
4.2 Lexical strata and bracketing paradoxes
5. The counter approach: roots as determinants for lexical strata
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This term paper examines various approaches to the stratification of morphological and phonological rules in English lexical morphology, identifying persistent inconsistencies and evaluating the functionality of existing models, particularly the two-stratum approach, in analyzing word formation processes.
- Analysis of morphological and phonological rules within lexical strata.
- Evaluation of the order of stratification and rule application.
- Critique of models regarding productive vs. irregular inflection.
- Investigation of "multi-stratum" affixes and bracketing paradoxes.
- Comparison of affix-based models versus root-based categorization.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Introducing affixes
The model of lexical phonology and morphology combines the analysis of morphological structures of words with its respective phonological rules in order to deliver a proper explanation of the development from one word to another. Therefore linguists act on the assumption that speakers of a language know the words of this language along with their internal structure and can intuitively process word formations by affixation or compounding (cf. Scalise 1986: 24). This involves knowledge about which word formation processes are licit in their language and which are ungrammatical:
(1) nation-al-ist *nation-ist-al *nation-ist
courage-ous-ness *courage-ness-ous *courage-ness
According to (1) it can be assumed that the formation of new words with the use of affixes takes place in a specific order, i.e. the lexicon is organized hierarchically (cf. Katamba/Stonham 2006: 89). Also, some affixes may apparently be attached to roots while others can not.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research scope concerning lexical morphology, phonological rules, and the general complexity of word formation in English.
2. Word formation processes and lexical strata: Introduces the categorization of affixes into lexical strata and discusses the hierarchical organization of word formation.
3. The refinement of the lexical phonology and morphology model: Examines specific morphological phenomena like blocking and the Strict Cycle Condition, and discusses the number of strata required for a model.
4. Yet unsolvable problems within the model: Analyzes inconsistencies, such as "multi-stratum" affixes and bracketing paradoxes, that remain difficult to explain within current models.
5. The counter approach: roots as determinants for lexical strata: Explores Goldsmith’s alternative theory, which suggests that roots, rather than affixes, should serve as the basis for stratification.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the limitations of current models and suggests that while stratification is a useful heuristic, it may not perfectly solve all linguistic exceptions.
Keywords
Lexical Morphology, Lexical Phonology, Stratum, Affixation, Word Formation, Inflection, Derivation, Strict Cycle Condition, Compounding, Blocking, Morphological Rules, Phonological Rules, Multi-stratum affixes, Bracketing Paradoxes, Roots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper deals with the lexical morphology and phonology model, specifically focusing on the stratification of morphological and phonological rules.
What are the central thematic fields?
The main themes include word formation processes, the classification of affixes, the ordering of rule application, and the evaluation of various stratification theories.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The objective is to examine different approaches to bundling morphological and phonological rules into strata and to analyze the problems and inconsistencies inherent in these models.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a theoretical, comparative analysis of existing linguistic models (e.g., Kiparsky, Halle/Mohanan) and confronts them with specific linguistic data and examples of English word formation.
What is discussed in the main section?
The main section covers the refinement of the two-stratum model, the role of the Strict Cycle Condition, the nature of compounding, and the treatment of problematic "multi-stratum" affixes.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Keywords include Lexical Morphology, Lexical Strata, Affixation, Word Formation, and the Strict Cycle Condition.
How does the author define the difference between stratum 1 and stratum 2?
Stratum 1 is generally associated with irregular inflection and non-neutral derivation that may trigger stress shifts, while stratum 2 involves regular, neutral derivation that preserves root stress and sounds.
What are "bracketing paradoxes" mentioned in the study?
Bracketing paradoxes refer to situations where the hierarchical structure required for morphological rules appears to conflict with the rules of affixation, such as in the formation of the word "reinfiltrator".
Is Goldsmith's root-based approach considered a definitive solution?
No, the author concludes that Goldsmith's approach can be easily refuted, as there are many roots that take both neutral and non-neutral affixes, showing it is not more reliable than conventional affix-based models.
- Quote paper
- Bastian Immanuel Wefes (Author), 2012, Challenging Lexical Morphology, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/201481
