Description
Syncretism - where a single form serves two or more morphosyntactic functions - is a persistent problem at the syntax-morphology interface. It results from a 'mismatch' whereby the syntax of a language makes a particular distinction but the morphology does not. This pioneering book provides a full-length study of inflectional syncretism, presenting a typology of its occurrence across a wide range of languages. The implications of syncretism for the syntax-morphology interface have long been recognised: it argues either for an enriched model of feature structure (thereby preserving a direct link between function and form), or for the independence of morphological structure from syntactic structure. This book presents a compelling argument for the autonomy of morphology and the resulting analysis is illustrated in a series of formal case studies within Network Morphology. It will be welcomed by all linguists interested in the relation between words and the larger units of which they are a part.
This pioneering book provides a full-length study of inflectional syncretism, presenting a typology of its occurrence across a wide range of languages.
About the Author
Matthew Baerman is Research Fellow in Linguistics at the University of Surrey. Dunstan Brown investigates autonomous morphology, morphology-syntax interaction, and typology. His recent work has focused on describing and understanding different aspects of morphological complexity. After graduating with a BA in Modern Languages and a Master of Linguistics from the University of Manchester, he completed a PhD in Linguistics at the University of Surrey and worked there for many years before taking up a 50th Anniversary Chair at the University of York in 2012. Greville G. Corbett is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at the University of Surrey.
Reviews
'This book is a milestone in the understanding of syncretism, and will interest both specialists and non-specialists ... the existing literature on syncretism is widely documented and discussed at length before the Network Morphology model is proposed, so that the theoretical inquiry matches the quality of the empirical data. Cercles
Book Information
ISBN 9780521821810
Author Matthew Baerman
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 620g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 21mm
This pioneering book provides a full-length study of inflectional syncretism, presenting a typology of its occurrence across a wide range of languages.
About the Author
Matthew Baerman is Research Fellow in Linguistics at the University of Surrey. Dunstan Brown investigates autonomous morphology, morphology-syntax interaction, and typology. His recent work has focused on describing and understanding different aspects of morphological complexity. After graduating with a BA in Modern Languages and a Master of Linguistics from the University of Manchester, he completed a PhD in Linguistics at the University of Surrey and worked there for many years before taking up a 50th Anniversary Chair at the University of York in 2012. Greville G. Corbett is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at the University of Surrey.
Reviews
'This book is a milestone in the understanding of syncretism, and will interest both specialists and non-specialists ... the existing literature on syncretism is widely documented and discussed at length before the Network Morphology model is proposed, so that the theoretical inquiry matches the quality of the empirical data. Cercles
Book Information
ISBN 9780521821810
Author Matthew Baerman
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 620g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 21mm
