Dynamics at the Lexicon-syntax Interface : Creativity and Routine in Word-formation and Multi-word Expressions

Both word-formation (WF) and the coinage of multi-word expressions (MWE) can be characterised in terms of creativity and routine. Routine in word-formation and multi-word expressions is traditionally described in terms of morphological, lexical, syntactic, and pragmatic rules, but ‘creativity’ is defined in different ways, with definitions ranging from seeing creativity at the heart of human (linguistic) cognition to seeing creativity as precisely beyond ‘regular’ routines, e.g. as an attention-seeking tool or wordplay. In this latter sense, ‘creativity’ is usually sharply distinguished from ‘productivity’, i.e. rule-governed behaviour. Despite these categorisations, the question on what basis patterns are to be defined as ‘creative’ still remains subject to debate. Futhermore, creativity and routine are often studied independently of each other, by different research communities. The volume aims to bring together these different research communities to discuss empirical evidence on the role of creativity and routinization in WF and MWEs.

Sabine Arndt-Lappe, University of Trier, Germany; Natalia Filatkina, University of Hamburg, Germany.