2011م - 1444هـ
What Is Morphology





Praise for What is Morphology?

“Aronoff and Fudeman have produced a clear and jargon-free introduction

to contemporary morphological theory and practice. The book succeeds

particularly in clarifying the empirical content, organizational principles

and analytic techniques that distinguish morphology from other areas

of linguistics.”

James P. Blevins, University of Cambridge

“This book offers abundant examples of morphological data and

illuminating guidance through the classic and fundamental problems

of morphological analysis. Any student who has worked through this

book will really know what morphologists do, and how they go about

doing it . . . I consider What Is Morphology? an indispensable introduction

to the subject.”

Martin Maiden, FBA,

Professor of the Romance Languages Faculty of Linguistics

Praise for Previous Edition

“Aronoff and Fudeman have provided an extremely pleasant tour of

the issues in modern morphological theory for beginning students. The

rich collection of exercises will be a godsend to instructors and students

alike, and the thread of discussion of a single language throughout the

book is a brilliant stroke that other texts should emulate.”

Stephen R. Anderson, Yale University

“This unusual book combines a basic start on morphology with an

introduction to Kujamaat Jóola. It is a fine addition to teaching materials

on morphology: a book for beginners to use with a teacher, yet one from

which any linguist could learn. The authors intend students to develop

‘a lasting taste for morphology’. I think many will.”

Greville Corbett, University of Surrey, Guildford

“Morphology has its own organizing principles, distinct from those of

syntax, phonology, and the lexicon. Too many morphology textbooks

obscure this fascinating fact, but Aronoff and Fudeman refreshingly

make it the cornerstone of their exposition.”

Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy, University of Canterbury





Contents

Preface viii

Acknowledgments xiv

Abbreviations xv

Remarks on Transcription xviii

The International Phonetic Alphabet xx

1 Thinking about Morphology and Morphological Analysis 1

1.1 What is Morphology? 1

1.2 Morphemes 2

1.3 Morphology in Action 4

1.4 Background and Beliefs 10

1.5 Introduction to Morphological Analysis 12

1.6 Summary 22

Introduction to Kujamaat Jóola 23

Further Reading 26

Exercises 27

2 Words and Lexemes 33

2.1 What is a Word? 34

2.2 Empirical Tests for Wordhood 38

2.3 Types of Words 40

2.4 Inflection vs. Derivation 47

2.5 Two Approaches to Morphology:

Item-and-Arrangement, Item-and-Process 49

2.6 The Lexicon 54