Defective Paradigms: Missing Forms and What They Tell Us

by Matthew Baerman, Greville G. Corbett, Dunstan Brown

An important design feature of language is the use of productive patterns in inflection. In English, we have pairs such as 'enjoy' 'enjoyed', 'agree' 'agreed', and many others. On the basis of this productive pattern, if we meet a new verb 'transduce' we know that there will be the form 'transduced'. Even if the pattern is not fully regular, there will be a form available, as in 'understand' 'understood'. Surprisingly, this principle is sometimes...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0197264603
• ISBN13: 9780197264607
• Release Date: July 2010
• Publisher: British Academy
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.3"