Universal #973

Legacy number: 973

 Number  969
 Original  If there are analogical changes in their inflectional paradigms, then the number of synonymous morphemes (stems and affixes) is more likely to diminish than to increase.
 Standardized  When there are analogical changes in their inflectional paradigms, the number of synonymous morphemes (stems and affixes) is more likely to diminish than to increase.
 Keywords  stem, affix, allomorphy, inflection class, synonymy, analogical change
 Domain  morphology
 Type  unconditional
 Status  diachronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  Indo-European languages
 Source  Maøczak 1958: 301, Maøczak 1963: 24, Maøczak 1966: 99, Maøczak 1978: 54, Maøczak 1980: 284

← Back to Universals Archive

Discussion
Notes
Although the investigation is based only on Indo-European languages, the author assumes his generalisation to be valid for all languages (Maøczak 1963: 19; 1978: 57). Maøczak regards his investigation as different from Kury:owicz's (especially Kury:owicz 1949; see Maøczak 1978). The universals of Kury:owicz and Maøczak are quite distinct from each other (see Best 1973: 61-107 and Anttila 1977: 76-80).
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Although the investigation is based only on Indo-European languages, the author assumes his generalisation to be valid for all languages (Maøczak 1963: 19; Maøczak 1978: 57). Maøczak regards his investigation as different from Kury:owicz's (especially Kury:owicz 1949; see Maøczak 1978). The universals of Kury:owicz and Maøczak are quite distinct from each other (see Best 1973: 61-107 and Anttila 1977: 76-80).