Part of
Cross-Disciplinary Issues in CompoundingEdited by Sergio Scalise and Irene Vogel
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 311] 2010
► pp. 21–36
Edited by Sergio Scalise and Irene Vogel
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 311] 2010
► pp. 21–36
The role of syntax and morphology in compounding
In this chapter it is argued that, although syntax is not directly involved in the formation of compounds themselves, competition between the syntactic and morphological modules of grammar (Ackema and Neeleman 2001, 2004) has a decisive influence on compounding. This is because this type of competition has the effect that certain, grammatically possible, compounds will not surface in a language. This is why synthetic compounds can be based on root compounds that do not themselves surface. We argue that, if the morphology of a language really does not allow for the relevant type of root compound to be formed, then the associated synthetic compounds are ruled out just as well. The fate of synthetic compounds during the development of Saramaccan (and some other creole languages) is shown to provide clear evidence for this hypothesis.
Cited by
Cited by 6 other publications
Ackema, Peter
2014. Japanese Causatives are Not Relevant To Lexical Integrity. Studia Linguistica 68:2 ► pp. 169 ff. 
Berg, Thomas
2014. Competition as a unifying concept for the study of language. The Mental Lexicon 9:2 ► pp. 338 ff.
Fuhrhop, Nanna & Sarah Olthoff
2019. Komposita als Herausforderung in Schulbuchtexten?. In Sprachsensibler Fachunterricht [Sprachsensibilität in Bildungsprozessen, ], ► pp. 35 ff.
Marqueta Gracia, Bárbara
2022. Are Verb-Noun Compounds Syntactically or Lexically Related to Verb Phrases?. Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics 15:2 ► pp. 335 ff.
Ralli, Angela
2013. Compounds Versus Phrases. In Compounding in Modern Greek [Studies in Morphology, 2], ► pp. 243 ff.
Spencer, Andrew
2018. Adjectives and compounds at the interface Heinz J. Giegerich, Lexical Structures: Compounding and the Modules of Grammar. Word Structure 11:2 ► pp. 254 ff.
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