Abstract
Laura Malena Kornfeld (CONICET - UBA - UNComa - Argentina), Andrés
Leandro Saab (UBA - Argentina)
Morphology and syntax: the case of prepositional preffixes in Spanish
In this paper, we intend to explain the nature of what Varela Ortega
& García (1999) call "prepositional preffixation" in Spanish.
The status of preffixation has been largely discussed in Spanish morphology.
RAE 1931 views it as a particular type of compounding; Lang (1990) and
Varela Ortega (1990) consider it a derivational process; Varela Ortega
& García (1999) claim that it is a different morphological process,
independent of the other two.
Varela Ortega & García (1999) -based on DiSciullo (1996)- distinguish
between prepositional preffixes (antesala, enjaular) and
adverbial preffixes (deshonesto, precocinar). Prepositional
preffixes attach productively to nouns and verbs. In the first case,
they bring about either endocentric (contraorden) or exocentric
constructions ([crema] antiarrugas). In the second case,
the product is always an endocentric construction (circunnavegar
la isla). Varela Ortega & García remark that in those cases in which
prepositional preffixes seem to be attached to adjectives, the adjective
is always denominal, the preffix actually modifying the nominal base
(intramuscular = 'in or into the muscle').
In this paper we will be concerned with prepositional preffixes, and
more specifically with the preffix+noun (P+N) forms, such as sinvergüenza,
sinrazón, sinsentido, interzonas, interfacultades,
interescuelas, contrapiso, contrafrente, contraorden,
contraargumento, contraejemplo, bajomesada, antebrazo,
anteojos, antigas, antiarrugas, that are syntactically
transparent (i.e., they present the internal structure of prepositional
phrases). We will put aside the cases of preffix+verb (P+V), in which
the internal structure does not follow any recognisable syntactic form.
The discussion will be based on the theoretical assumptions below:
- Morphology is not a theory of the lexicon, since the lexicon contains
only the irregular or idiosyncratic elements that must be memorized
by the speaker (morphemes, words, phrases, sentences). Hence, morphology
does not have to account for actual objects (i.e., all the lexical
items actually existent in a language), but it is a theory about potential
objects exactly in the same sense syntax is (DiSciullo & Williams
1987, Lieber 1992).
- We assume, as Lieber (1992) does, that syntax and morphology are
not different "places" or different sets of principles. The same set
of principles applies to two domains differentiated only by the elements
they operate (i.e., morphological vs. syntactic atoms) and by the
elements they produce (i.e., words vs. phrases). So, we can distinguish
word syntax (i.e., morphology) from sentential syntax (i.e., proper
syntax), both regulated by the same principles.
- Each morpheme (free or bound) listed in the lexicon has its own
complete lexical entry, that is to say, an entry with its phonological,
syntactic and semantic information (Lieber 1992). Within the syntactic
information included in the lexical entry is the argument structure
(in the sense of Hale & Keyser 1991, 1993, 1998), that projects directly
onto sentential syntax.
- Not only morphology can produce lexical units; there are also mechanisms
that transform syntactic objects into syntactic atoms (i.e., syntactic
words, cfr. DiSciullo & Williams 1987).
- From this general framework, one of the main theoretical purposes
of our paper is to show that the traditional notions of derivation
and compounding are derived or not primitive, because, as we have
seen, the real basic distinction is between word formation in morphology
(word syntax) and word formation in proper syntax (sentential syntax).
From this general framework, one of the main theoretical purposes of
our paper is to show that the traditional notions of derivation and
compounding are derived or not primitive, because, as we have seen,
the real basic distinction is between word formation in morphology (word
syntax) and word formation in proper syntax (sentential syntax). In
this sense, and since the internal structure of P+N's in Spanish is
similar to the structure of prepositional phrases, we consider that
P+N's are instances of compounding.
From the descriptive point of view, the aims of this paper are: a)
to characterize the P+N forms in Spanish; b) to unify the syntactic
(categorial and argumental) properties of preffixes and prepositions;
c) to account for the difference between the prepositional preffixes
of latin or greek origin and those corresponding to spanish prepositions;
d) to propose an explanation for the cases of P+A, that are not so "natural"
from the syntactic point of view and produce the so-called "bracketing
paradoxes" (DiSciullo & Williams 1987, Rainer & Varela 1992, Piera &
Varela 1999).
References
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