Degrees of morphophonemic abstraction

Abstract

This paper sets forth a classification of morphophonemic data based on the complexities involved in abstracting a morphophonemic representation from the phonemically-represented alternate forms of morphemes. Four degrees of abstraction are recognized according to whether the morphophonemic shape for a morpheme 1) appears to be identical to an actual allomorph, 2) appears to be pieced together from the alternating phonemes of actual allomorphs, 3) includes special segmental distinctions established to deal with alternate forms of a morpheme which are not automatic on the surface, or 4) includes special segmental distinctions established for the purpose of conditioning alternations affecting adjacent morphemes. The usefulness of this classification in both metatheoretical discussion and linguistic pedagogy is discussed. It is further suggested that the distinctions set forth may have some validity in the study of strategies in language learning. It is pointed out that such distinctions need not be directly reflected in a theory of language structure, however, inasmuch as there is no particular reason to insist that a structure reflect directly the processes involved in its establishment. All that is required is that a model of structure be compatible with the appropriate theory of acquisition.