Morphology Cont

Functions pg Clark Derivational –Morphemes that alter the meaning –In English prefixes or suffixes Inflectional –Grammatical relationship/information –In English all suffixes

Inflectional or Derivational? The {-er} in “bigger” The {-ment} in “judgment” The {un-} in “unkind” The {-ing} in “walking” The {-er} in “golfer” The {-en} in “darken”

Hierarchy Words are formed in steps When more than one affix = more than one step Represent hierarchical structure with “trees” –Shows steps

Trees Un.think.able –Think  thinkable  unthinkable A unthinkable

Ambiguity What does unlockable mean? –Meaning 1: capable of being unlocked –Meaning 2: can’t be locked {un- 1 } A  A (‘not’) –Unhappy, unthinkable {un- 2 } V  V (reverse the action of V) –Untie, undo, unscrew

A closer look at ambiguity un- lock -able V A A A can be unlocked cannot be locked

Allomorphy English Plural Written two ways –“cats”, “dogs”, “bicycles”, “wars” –“bushes”, “walruses”, “watches” Pronounced three ways –[s] –[z] –[´z]

Allomorphy “cows” “flamingos” “toads” “partridges” “snakes” “ostriches” “giraffes” “apes”

Allomorphy [s] [z] [´z]

Allomorphy /z/ {-z}{-s} {´z} z  s / voiceless consonant __ z  ´z / frication __ z  z / elsewhere

How to do a morphology problem –Examine your data Don’t be confused by unfamiliar symbols. You are looking for patterns in form and meaning. –Choose two similar items Maybe they differ by only one or two symbols –Check the glosses for those items The glosses for those similar items will differ slightly (perhaps in tense or subject). –Make a hypothesis Hypothesize as to the difference in form and its relationship to the difference in meaning. –Test your hypothesis Use other data to confirm or reject your hypothesis

Kanuri (a language spoken in Western Africa) gana“small” kura“big” kurugu“long” numkura“bigness” numgana“smallness” numkurugu“length” First, examine your data…

Choose two similar items gana kura kurugu numkura numgana numkurugu

Check the glosses for those items gana kura“big” kurugu numkura“bigness” numgana numkurugu Can you make a hypothesis based on this pair of words?

Test your hypothesis gana“small” kura“big” kurugu“long” numkura“bigness” numgana“smallness” numkurugu“length”

Conclusion

Hanunoo (a language spoken in the Philippines) usa“one” usahi“make it one!” duwa“two” duwahi“make it two!” upat“four” upati“make it four!” unum“six” unumi“make it six!”

Choose two similar items ‘usa ‘usahi duwa duwahi ‘upat ‘upati ‘unum ‘unumi

Check the glosses for those items ‘usa ‘usahi duwa“two” duwahi“make it two!” ‘upat ‘upati ‘unum ‘unumi Can you make a hypothesis??

Test your hypothesis ‘usa“one” ‘usahi“make it one!” duwa“two” duwahi“make it two!” ‘upat“four” ‘upati“make it four!” ‘unum“six” ‘unumi“make it six!”

Make a new hypothesis and test it ‘usa“one” ‘usahi“make it one!” duwa“two” duwahi“make it two!” ‘upat“four” ‘upati“make it four!” ‘unum“six” ‘unumi“make it six!”

Conclusion

Arabic fasara“she/he discovered” fassara“she/he explained” thakara“she/he remembered” thakkara“she/he reminded” bala’a“she/he reached” balla’a“she/he brought”

Conclusion Infix –reduplicate C2 –“causative” action is shifted from doer to receiver

Homework Due Monday 9/27