Morphological Productivity: Structural Constraints in English Derivation (Topics in English Linguistics [TiEL], 28)

The future of English linguistics as envisaged by the editors of Topics in English Linguistics lies in empirical studies, which integrate work in English linguistics into general and theoretical linguistics on the one hand, and comparative linguistics on the other. The TiEL series features volumes that present interesting new data and analyses, and above all fresh approaches that contribute to the overall aim of the series, which is to further outstanding research in English linguistics. For further publications in English linguistics see also our Dialects of English book series. To discuss your book idea or submit a proposal, please contact Natalie Fecher. This book deals with one of the central problems for theories of word-formation, the productivity of morphological processes. The productivity of these processes is assessed, using both text-based and dictionary - based measures (Cobuild corpus vs. Oxford English Dictionary). Implementing Optimality Theory and Jackendorff's Lexical Conceptual Semantics, a large number of 20th century neologisms extracted from the OED are investigated with regard to their phonological, morphological and semantic characteristics. On the theoretical level the proposed analysis presents evidence against the separation of meaning and form in derivational morphology and for a sign-based, output-oriented model instead 1. Introduction -- 2. Productivity: Definitions And Measurements -- 3. Restrictions On Productivity -- 4. The Combinability Of Derivational Suffixes -- 5. Rival Morphological Processes 1: The Productivity Of Verb-deriving Processes -- 6. Rival Morphological Processes 2: The Structural Properties Of -ize Derivatives -- 7. Rival Morphological Processes 3: The Structural Properties Of Other Verb-deriving Processes -- 8. Rival Morphological Processes 4: Where Have All The Rivals Gone? -- 9. Conclusion -- App. 1. 20th Century Neologisms From The Oed -- App. 2. Hapax Legomena From The Cobuild Corpus. By Ingo Plag. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [245]-269) And Indexes.