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Article published In: Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 33:1 (2020) ► pp.202–226

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Productivity and graduality in the Layered Structure of the Word

Opaque word-formation in Old English

 | Universidad de La Rioja
 | Universidad de La Rioja
Published online: 21 August 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.17058.urr
Abstract
This article deals with two theoretical aspects of lexical derivation, productivity and graduality. After a discussion of transparency and opaqueness in Old English word-formation, it focuses on lexical productivity and puts forward a typology of recursive phenomena. On the basis of this typology, the morphological template of the Layered Structure of the Word is revised. The main conclusion is that a more diachronically oriented analysis is likely to opt for a decompositional template, whereas a more synchronically directed study which seeks typological validity will probably favour the template with one functional slot. If the focus is on diachronic linguistics, a template based on minimal constituent analysis can guarantee a detailed description of the derivational steps of the word, including non-affixal derivation and semantically opaque affixes.
Resumen
Productividad y gradualidad de la estructura jerárquica de la palabra: Opacidad en la formación de palabras en inglés antiguo
Este artículo trata dos aspectos teóricos de la derivación léxica, la productividad y la gradualidad. Tras una discusión sobre la transparencia y la opacidad en la formación de palabras en inglés antiguo, el trabajo se centra en la productividad léxica y propone una tipología del fenómeno de la recursividad. De acuerdo con dicha tipología, se modifica la plantilla morfológica de la estructura jerárquica de la palabra (Layered structure of the word). La conclusión principal es que un análisis en el eje diacrónico optará por un modelo de descomposición gradual, mientras que un estudio sincrónico que se proponga lograr la validez tipológica recurrirá al modelo de plantilla morfológica con una única posición funcional. En el análisis diacrónico, la plantilla de constituyentes mínimos garantiza la descripción detallada de los procesos derivativos de la palabra, incluidos la derivación no afijal y los afijos opacos desde el punto de vista semántico.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Transparency vs. opaqueness in the derivations of Old English
  • 3.Productivity in lexical derivation
  • 4.Lexical graduality
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
  • Dictionaries and lexical databases
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