ROA: | 487 |
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Title: | Remarks on Nominal Inflection in German |
Authors: | Gereon Mueller |
Comment: | |
Length: | 29 |
Abstract: | I develop an optimality-theoretic approach to nominal inflection in German according to which the form and the distribution of inflection markers in NPs are both determined in the syntax. The approach is inferential-realizational, and it dispenses with the assumption that nominal inflection markers in German are morphemes in their own right. Furthermore, paradigms of nominal inflection emerge as mere epiphenomena. The main three advantages of this approach are that all instances of paradigmatic syncretism can be shown to be systematic; that a partial motivation for the form of inflection markers can be given by invoking the Sonority Hierarchy; and that well-known instances of syntactic influence on the choice of inflection markers can be accounted for straightforwardly. In addition, the paper may answer certain questions raised by ROA 481 (which presupposes that morphological Case marking can arise in the syntax but does not say how). |
Type: | Paper/tech report |
Area/Keywords: | Morphology |
Article: | Version 1 |