Essentials of Linguistics 5.4 Allomorphy

Summary

This video discusses the concept of allomorphy in linguistics, focusing on how certain morphemes appear in different forms depending on their phonological environment. It explains phonologically conditioned allomorphs, using examples like the English indefinite article (a vs. an) and plural forms (books, dogs, nieces). The script also highlights lexically conditioned allomorphy, such as internal changes in plural forms (child/children, ox/oxen). The video encourages viewers to explore and identify other examples of allomorphy in English and other languages, fostering deeper understanding of morphosyntactic variations in language.

Takeaways

• 😀 Morphemes can appear in different forms depending on the phonological environment, a concept called allomorphy.
• 😀 In English, the indefinite article 'a' becomes 'an' when it precedes a vowel sound, showing phonologically conditioned allomorphy.
• 😀 The plural form in English nouns can be spelled as 's' or 'es', but the pronunciation varies based on the final sound of the root.
• 😀 English plural forms can have different allomorphs, such as the 's' sound, 'z' sound, or 'iz' sound, depending on the preceding phoneme.
• 😀 Phonologically conditioned allomorphy is predictable based on the final sound in a word’s root.
• 😀 Some English plural forms, like 'child' to 'children' and 'goose' to 'geese', have irregular allomorphs that need to be memorized.
• 😀 Nouns with no change in the plural form (e.g., 'fish' or 'sheep') are said to have a zero affix, which is represented by the empty set symbol (∅).
• 😀 Lexically conditioned allomorphy occurs when the form of a morpheme is determined by the root, not by a phonological rule.
• 😀 The plural allomorphs in English include 's', 'z', 'is', internal change (e.g., 'mouse' to 'mice'), and the zero affix.
• 😀 Allomorphy is a feature found not only in English but also in many other languages, with different affixes and rules governing how morphemes change.

Q & A

What is allomorphy in linguistics?

Allomorphy refers to the phenomenon where a single morpheme (the smallest meaningful unit of language) appears in different forms depending on the phonological or lexical environment it occurs in.

What is phonologically conditioned allomorphy?

Phonologically conditioned allomorphy occurs when the form of a morpheme changes depending on the surrounding sounds in the phonological environment, such as the change in pronunciation of the plural morpheme /s/ depending on the final sound of a noun.

Can you provide examples of phonologically conditioned allomorphy in English?

Yes. For example, in English, the plural morpheme appears as /s/ after voiceless consonants (e.g., 'cats'), /z/ after voiced consonants (e.g., 'dogs'), and /ɪz/ after sibilants (e.g., 'horses').

What is lexically conditioned allomorphy?

Lexically conditioned allomorphy occurs when the form of a morpheme has to be memorized for individual words, as the form does not follow predictable phonological rules. For instance, irregular plurals like 'child' to 'children' or 'ox' to 'oxen' need to be learned as unique forms.

What is meant by a null affix or empty affix?

A null affix (or empty affix) refers to a situation where a morpheme does not have an overt or visible form. For example, the plural of 'fish' does not change, indicating a null affix.

Why is the plural of 'fish' considered a null affix?

The plural form of 'fish' does not change from its singular form, so it is considered to have a null affix. This means there is no overt morpheme added to signify plurality.

What are the different allomorphs of the English plural?

The allomorphs of the English plural include the /s/ sound, /z/ sound, /ɪz/ sound, and the null affix (no change in form), as seen in words like 'cats' (/s/), 'dogs' (/z/), 'horses' (/ɪz/), and 'fish' (null affix).

Can you give examples of irregular plurals in English?

Yes, examples of irregular plurals in English include 'child' to 'children,' 'ox' to 'oxen,' and 'mouse' to 'mice.' These do not follow the standard rule of adding 's' or 'es' to form the plural.

How is the plural morpheme pronounced differently in English?

The plural morpheme is pronounced differently depending on the final sound of the noun root. It can be pronounced as /s/ after voiceless consonants, /z/ after voiced consonants, and /ɪz/ after sibilant sounds, such as 'sh' or 'ch.'

What role does the phonological environment play in allomorphy?

The phonological environment affects how morphemes are pronounced. In phonologically conditioned allomorphy, the surrounding sounds (such as consonants and vowels) influence the form that a morpheme takes, as seen in the plural forms of English nouns.