Morphology: A Distributed Morphology Introduction

The first comprehensive morphology textbook written in the framework of Distributed Morphology, firmly grounded in cross-linguistic theory

Distributed Morphology is the theoretical framework that views morphology as syntactic, proposing that there is no divide between the construction of words and the construction of sentences. The first text of its kind, Morphology: A Distributed Morphology Introduction provides a thorough overview of Distributed Morphology using data and problem sets from a diverse selection of the world's languages. Divided into two parts, this valuable resource begins by describing the basics of morphology and then moves into an exploration of more advanced topics in morphology including morphosyntactic operations, cyclic derivation, the Mirror Principle, and non-compositional language. Each chapter includes a glossary of key terms, learning objectives, further readings, and illustrative examples to reinforce learning. Exercises and problem sets encourage students to develop their understanding and build confidence in the application of theory to practice. Through this valuable text, students will develop comprehension in morphological parsing and glossing, the concept of the lexicon, the different types of morphemes, the idea of paradigms, the basic practice of morphological analysis, and more.

Offering detailed yet accessible coverage of morphological theory from the perspective of Distributed Morphology, this textbook:

• Introduces the methodology used in morphology, the basic assumptions of Distributed Morphology, and key concepts from lexical grammatical approaches to language
• Covers essential phonology, feature interaction, paradigms as linguistic objects, core ideas of syntax and syntactic derivation, and derivation and inflection in Distributed Morphology
• Includes a Quick Reference Guide with glossing abbreviations from the Leipzig Glossing Rules, a full IPA chart with instructions, and charts of phonological features
• Provides access to a companion website containing solutions to problem sets and additional instructor resources

Morphology: A Distributed Morphology Introduction is the ideal textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in morphology courses or with an interest in specializing in morphology. Offering students an unparalleled overview of this growing field of morphology, this text will ensure that developing morphologists are well-equipped to employ the latest methods in Distributed Morphology to their own research and study.

JEFFREY P. PUNSKE is an Associate Professor in the School of Languages and Linguistics and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Linguistics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA. He specializes in morphosyntax, especially in the framework of Distributed Morphology, and in linguistic pedagogy and public outreach through constructed languages. He has published in journals such as Lingua and Canadian Journal of Linguistics, and has presented on issues of language at workshops hosted by the European Space Agency and the National Space Society