Pseudo-composites and pseudo-words: Sufficient and necessary criteria for morphological analysis

• Published in: Lingua 1973-01, Vol.9 (1), p.41-70
• Main Authors: Hervey, Sandor Geza Joseph, Mulder, Jan W F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0024-3841

An attempt to explore in a principled way--that is, by the deduction of theorems from certain basic premises contained in "axiomatic functionalist" linguistic theory--the conditions under which it is valid to identify a grammatical entity as: (1) a bona fide complex, analyzable into fectionally and synchronically operational component linguistic signs--as opposed to a simple, unanalyzable sign, in spite of apparent complexity (e.g., blackbird); (2) a bona fide morphological complex, containing linguistic signs that function as mutually simultaneous (symmetrically related) elements, and constituting a bundle that, in its turn, is a potential minimum syntagmatic element (e.g., work+past=worked); or (3) a bona fide syntactic complex, containing linguistic signs that function as syntactically related elements (e.g., garage-door). By the provision of an explicit method for investigating whether a given grammatical entity fulfills the conditions for attributing to it an internal structure--morphological or syntactic--a rigorous classification of grammatical entities into the categories simple, morphologically complex, and syntactically complex, is made possible. This allows a solution of the strict compartmentalization of grammar into morphology and syntax to be made in a consistent and adequate manner. Samples from English are included to illustrate the application of the criteria presented. AA