Morpheme order inside the verb

A Typological Approach

Bibliographic Data

ID4580941
AuthorsThomas Berg (0000-0001-5895-5457, Universität Hamburg, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume35
Issue3
Pages339-366
Publication date2025-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMorphology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1871-5621 • E-ISSN: 1871-5656
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s11525-025-09442-5
OpenAlexW4411201919
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited30

While much research activity has been devoted to variable morpheme order in individual languages, very little is known about morpheme order variation across languages. In an attempt to partially remedy this state of affairs, this study investigates the ordering patterns in complex words consisting of a verbal nucleus (V), a pronominal affix (PRO) and one of the following grammatical categories (X): past, future, negative, progressive and causative. A large-scale typological analysis reveals that of 30 logically possible ordering options, as many as 28 are attested in the languages of the world. The two predominant orders are consistently PRO-V-X and V-X-PRO. Three ordering biases jointly shape the empirical patterns-Bybee's notion of relevance, the lexicon-before-grammar principle, and a preference of pronominal affixes to occur in initial positions. The fact that the mirror image principle fails argues for asymmetry as a characteristic feature of serial order

Economics · Linguistics · Morpheme · Natural language processing · Order (exchange · Verb · Word order · Computer Science · Lexicography and Language Studies · Mathematics · Natural Language Processing Techniques · Philosophy · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation