Endoclitics and the Origins of Udi Morphosyntax

by Alice C. Harris

Overview

This book provides a description and analysis of a phenomenon that appears to be unique among languages that have been brought to the attention of linguists, namely the possibility of small words occurring inside other words. Examination of this is important because it helps us to understand what a word is from a cross-linguistic point of view. The second part of the book shows how Udi came to be so different from other languages, and how in this sense it explains the phenomenon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199246335
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/23/2002
Series:	Oxford Linguistics Ser.
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	9.21(w) x 6.14(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Alice C. Harris received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from Harvard University in 1976 and is Professor of Linguistics (since 1991), Professor of Anthropology (since 1992), and Chair of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages at Vanderbilt University. She is author, co-author, or editor of four books and numerous articles in the field of general linguistics. At Vanderbilt University she teaches courses on linguistic analysis, language and cognition, sociolinguistics, anthropological linguistics, and historical linguistics.

Table of Contents

Part I: The ProblemPart II: Endoclitics in Udi2. Introduction to the Synchrony: Sketch of some Grammatical Phenomena3. Focus4. Complex Verbs5. Clitic Properties6. The Position of Clitics in Udi7. An Optimality Theory ApproachPart III: The Explanation8. Introduction to the Diachrony: Origins of Udi Morphosyntax9. Development of the Udi Verb out of its Proto-Lezgian Sources10. Focus Clefts and the Origins of Focus in Udi11. Changes in Case Marking Patterns12. Explaining the Origins of the PM Positions