Understanding Words and Morphology

Understanding Words and Morphology

offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of how words are constructed. Designed for undergraduates with limited background in linguistics, this book explores morphological approaches within linguistic theory over the past two decades. We cover mainstream generative linguistics, including Chomsky's lexicalist morphology, phonology-inspired developments, and syntactically oriented approaches from the 1980s, as well as lesser-known European theories.

We identify and critically examine the issues each approach addresses, assessing their effectiveness. Our book provides valuable insights for both students and practicing linguists such as syntacticians, phonologists, and other specialists who need a formal overview of related branches of linguistic theory.

We include data from a wide variety of languages, encouraging scholars to gather and analyze their own data. This book covers essential topics such as internal word structure, derivation, compounding, inflection, morphological typology, productivity, and the interface of morphology with syntax and phonology. We anticipate and address the question "Is it a real word?" by examining the distinction between dictionaries and the internal lexicon.