Form-Meaning Mapping Phenomena #

@cite{kalin-bjorkman-etal-2026}

§4 of @cite{kalin-bjorkman-etal-2026} identifies seven descriptive types of form-meaning mapping — the relationships between phonological exponents and morphosyntactic features/functions.

These seven types are theory-neutral descriptive categories: any theory of morphology must account for them (whether by generating them directly, reanalyzing them, or invoking extra mechanisms).

source

inductive Core.Morphology.FormMeaningMapping.MappingType :

Type

The seven descriptive types of form-meaning mapping. @cite{kalin-bjorkman-etal-2026} §4.

oneToOne : MappingType
One meaning/function ↔ one exponent, invariant. Example: root cat is always \/kæt\/.
allomorphy : MappingType
One meaning/function → multiple competing exponents (context-sensitive selection). Example: English plural -z, -s, -ɪz, -ən, ∅. §4.1.
multipleExponence : MappingType
One meaning/function → multiple co-occurring exponents (non-competing, simultaneous expression). Example: Amharic k'al-at-otʃtʃ 'words' (two plural markers). §4.2.
syncretism : MappingType
Multiple related meanings/functions → one exponent (non-co-occurring contexts share a form). Example: English -ed for past tense and past participle. §4.3.
portmanteau : MappingType
Multiple co-occurring meanings/functions → one exponent (bundled into a single form). Example: French du = de + le. §4.4.
morphologicalGap : MappingType
A meaning/function has no corresponding form — the paradigm cell is empty. Example: English stride lacks a standard past participle. §4.5.1.
emptyMorph : MappingType
A form has no corresponding meaning/function. Example: Romance theme vowels, compound linkers. §4.5.2.