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Distributed for Center for the Study of Language and Information

Word Structure in Ngalakgan

Word Structure in Ngalakgan is the first major theoretical work on the phonology and morphology of an Australian language in 20 years. Ngalakgan is a non-configurational, polysynthetic, and agglutinative language of the Gunwinyguan family. The morphological structures of Ngalakgan require a two-level analysis: ROOT-level and WORD-level. Only the WORD-level shows regular phonologically conditioned alternations. The ROOT-level is entirely frozen. Baker demonstrates that Optimality Theory must take account of differences in the productivity of morphological relations in the input, in order to maintain the simplest analysis. Ngalakgan has a quantity-sensitive stress system which is hitherto undescribed and which contradicts the predictions of current Moraic Theory. Syllables closed by codas which share place with a following onset do not count as heavy even though heterorganic codas do. The same system is found in neighbouring languages. This and other patterns suggest that syllabification in these languages is gesture-, rather than timing-, based.
 
 

346 pages | 6 x 9 | © 2008

Language and Linguistics: General Language and Linguistics


Table of Contents

Maps, tables, and figures
Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
 
1. Introduction
2. Issues in the segmental inventory of Ngalakgan
3. Root and Word
4. Affixation and prosodic domains
5. Weight
6. Geminates and other boundary signals
7. Conclusion
 
References
Subject index
Language index
Name index

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