Morphology Cont. Functions pg 136-7 Clark Derivational –Morphemes that alter the meaning –In English prefixes or suffixes Inflectional –Grammatical relationship/information.

Morphology Cont

Functions pg 136-7 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

A

un think able

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 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

ganakurakurugunumkuranumgananumkurugu

Check the glosses for those items

gana

kura “big”

kurugu

numkura “bigness”

numgana

numkuruguCan 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‘usahiduwaduwahi‘upat‘upati‘unum‘unumi

Check the glosses for those items

‘usa‘usahiduwa “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