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Two Approaches To Predictive Indeterminacy, Gregory Stump

Linguistics Faculty Publications

In formal analyses of productive systems of stem gradation, it is commonly assumed (1) that each alternating stem possesses a single, basic grade form from which its other grade forms may be derived, and (ii) that all basic forms belong to the same grade; certain languages, however, present predictively indeterminate systems of gradation, for which these assumptions are not apparently valid. Two approaches to the analysis of such systems are discussed here: the first approach, exemplified by Anderson’s (1976) Analysis of initial consonant gradation in Fula, allows both assumptions (i) and (ii) to be maintained at the expense of an …