A structural typology of polysynthesis

Abstract

In the absence of a generally acknowledged definition of polysynthesis, the languages which have been described as polysynthetic are quite heterogeneous in morphological structure. As necessary criteria for the recognition of polysynthesis this paper discusses the existence of complex (verb) forms which allow, within one word unit, for components, either non-root bound morphemes or concatenated roots, which express several of the following categories: classification, quantification, location, direction, motion, instrument, manner, modality, degree, scale and chronology. Furthermore, the roles of polypersonalism, noun incorporation and verb root serialization are considered.

A classification of different polysynthesis types is proposed on the basis of the word-formational type and the internal organization of a verb form. According to these parameters, on one dimension affixally polysynthetic languages use only non-root bound morphemes for the expression of necessary “ingredients” and allow only a single lexical root per word form, and compositionally polysynthetic languages allow more than one lexical root per word form, e.g. noun incorporation and verb root serialization. These types cross-classify with scope-ordered and templatic organizations of polysynthetic verb forms on a second dimension. This classification allows for a reconciliation of diametrically opposed claims with respect to the delimitation of polysynthesis.