Reduplication: The Computation from Merge to PF
Andrew Nevins, MIT
Novi Sad, 22 July - 2 August 02
Description:
An overview of the universal morphological phenomenon of reduplication, a process of affixation that looks like pronouncing part of the same word twice. The course will use the "easy" example of reduplication to compare larger issues in the theory of word formation.
Schedule:
NB: This course will make use of lengthy handouts because
there is lots of data to look at. It's all fun data though!
If possible, please print out and read Moravscik's paper before the first class.
- Day 1: Exponence vs. Readjustment
Reduplication is affixation? What kind? How is its melodic content filled? Why does it coocur with other affixes sometimes? What does this have in common with, say, the English past tense? What parts of the grammar contribute which pieces that we see in reduplicative constructions? Intro to reduplication within a morphological theory.
- Day 2: The "Syntax and Semantics" of Reduplication
The point of this lecture will be to explore how syntactically
and semantically diverse the constructions are that are grouped
under the RED umbrella. We'll discuss theories of "iconicity",
examine semantic scope in multiple reduplication (Broselow/Lushootseed), contrastive total reduplication (Ghomeshi etal), predicate clefts, "subjacency" of reduplication. Hopefully we can discuss some of these uses in comparison with the structure-reducing
operation of truncation.
- Day 3: Theory and Implementation: Occurrences in Serialism or Parallelism
What is the relationship between the two copies we see on the surface? Classic and not so classic overapplication and underapplication effects. "Occurrence theory" as a generalized tool of linguistic theory. Examination and comparison of concrete models. Readings: Mester, Blevins, McCarthy & Prince, Raimy, Frampton and the Handout. The focus of this session is to examine the chain of events as different theories sketch a morphology-phonology interface (or baffling lack thereof).
- Day 4: Extended interactions with Well-Formedness
Why does identity diverge sometimes? Where does material that wasn't in the original come from? How do we distinguish reduplication from other things that look like it? Topics: Templatic phenomena, nonreduplicative repair, affixhood, onsethood, fixed segmentism, and "aggressive reduplication". Readings: Kawu, Alderete et al, Gafos, Zuraw, Jungraithmayr, and a variety of my own papers. The issues are bound to be contentious as we will be discussing issues of productivity and prosodic structure.
- Day 5: Grab Bag/Unresolved issues/Open Questions
I'm sure we will have some material from one of the previous 4 days
that we didn't completely cover or want to pursue in further detail;
this day will be devoted to that purpose. By the way if there are
topics you know right now you want to cover please let me know: ain@ai.mit.edu.
Electronic versions of selected readings:
NOTE: None of these are obligatory before the first class. I am putting them here simply as a resource for people who want these made available early.
Phenomenological Overviews
- Regier's iconicity paper: regier.pdf
- Moravscik's seminal typology: moravscik.pdf (from greenberg's universals 1978)
Where does Syntax Fit?
Morphophonological Models
Salish reduplication