Morphological non-blocking in Dutch plural allomorphy: a contrastive approach

Kürschner S (2009)


Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Accepted

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2009

Journal

Original Authors: Kürschner Sebastian

Publisher: Akad.-Verl

Book Volume: 62

Pages Range: 285-306

Journal Issue: 4

URI: http://www.sprachwissenschaft.uni-erlangen.de/personen/daten/kuerschner/Kuerschner_Blocking_STUF.pdf

Abstract

Dutch simplex nouns ending in schwa have two regular plural forms, e.g. bode-s/bode-n ‘messengers’. This means that neither of the two allomorphs -s and -n is blocked. Such regular non-blocking is non-existent in the closely related languages German and Afrikaans. To identify the reasons for this divergence, the history of plural marking in the three languages is compared. Based on the historical observations it is argued that the doublets in Dutch are retained due to the output principle of plurals ending in a trochaic foot, according to which both -s and -n may apply without preference on stems with non-final stress.

 

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How to cite

APA:

Kürschner, S. (2009). Morphological non-blocking in Dutch plural allomorphy: a contrastive approach. Language typology and universals, 62(4), 285-306.

MLA:

Kürschner, Sebastian. "Morphological non-blocking in Dutch plural allomorphy: a contrastive approach." Language typology and universals 62.4 (2009): 285-306.

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