2020/02/11 by Matthias Gerner, Ling Zhang · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Computer Science · #Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation #Natural Language Processing Techniques #Linguistics and Discourse Analysis
paper · doi:10.1075/sl.16085.ger
openalex publication_date 2020/02/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Abstract This paper sheds a new light on the notion of zero morphemes in inflectional paradigms: on their formal definition ( § 1 ), on the way of counting them ( § 2 – 3 ) and on the way of conceptualizing them at a deeper, mathematical level ( § 4 ). We define (zero) morphemes in the language of cartesian set products and propose a method of counting them that applies the lexical relations of homophony, polysemy, allomorphy and synonymy to inflectional paradigms ( § 2 ). In this line, two homophonic or synonymous morphemes are different morphemes, while two polysemous and allomorphic morphemes count as one morpheme ( § 3 ). In analogy to the number zero in mathematics, zero morphemes can be thought of either as minimal elements in a totally ordered set or as neutral element in a set of opposites ( § 4 ). Implications for language acquisition are discussed in the conclusion ( § 5 ).