Speaker: Pavel Caha (Masaryk University)
Title: “Allomorphy in Nanosyntax”
When: Wednesday, November 19th, 1pm-2:30pm (Day 1) + Thursday, November 20th, 12:30-2pm (Day 2)
Where: 32-D461
Abstract:
Syntax is a combinatorial system which, in the simplest case, takes two objects and joins them together. E.g., when an excessive marker (too) combines with an adjective (tall), we get the phrase too tall with predictable form and meaning. Morphological concatenation is apparently different and requires linear statements of the sort “realize plural as -en next to ox” (but not next to fox).
The minicourse explores the options for the treatment of allomorphy in Nanosyntax. It argues that if we use phrasal lexicalization, allomorphy can be captured without contextual rules. In this system, different allomorphs lexicalize different features, reflecting a “division of labor” between which meanings are expressed by the root/stem and which by the affix. The system is both more restrictive in some areas than contextual rules and more powerful in others. The course unpacks these properties on several case studies.