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Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
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The morph as a minimal linguistic form.
1MPI for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany.
Morphology (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|July 11, 2020
Summary
This paper proposes using "morph" for minimal linguistic forms. This clarifies terminology for linguists, defining roots, prefixes, and suffixes more precisely.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Morphology
- Lexicography
Background:
- Current linguistic terminology for minimal forms is often unclear or abstract.
- Existing terms like 'morpheme' have multiple meanings, causing confusion.
- A need exists for a precise term for minimal linguistic units.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose the term 'morph' for minimal linguistic forms.
- To provide a clear and consistent basis for defining related linguistic concepts.
- To resolve terminological ambiguities in morphology and related fields.
Main Methods:
- Terminological analysis and proposal.
- Comparative analysis of existing linguistic terms.
- Demonstration of the utility of the proposed term 'morph'.
Main Results:
- The term 'morph' is proposed as a precise designation for minimal linguistic forms.
- 'Morph' can serve as a foundational term for defining 'root,' 'prefix,' and 'suffix.'
- The proposed term facilitates clearer definitions of suppletion and morph variants, addressing 'allomorphy' confusion.
Conclusions:
- Adopting 'morph' enhances clarity and consistency in linguistic terminology.
- The proposed term offers a robust framework for morphological analysis.
- This terminological refinement benefits linguists across various subfields.

