Abstract
If the English informal style deletions (ISDs) illustrated in ((Are) you) going? are analyzed as the result of a (late) syntactic rule, theoretical embarrassments ensue concerning the relationship of syntax and phonology, the notion of surface structure, and the separation of cliticization from other syntax. But ISDs can delete proper parts of (phonological) words and are even fed by morphophonemic rules; these facts argue that ISDs are themselves morphological, in fact morphophonemic. We propose that, in general, deletions of named morphemes, whether ‘optional’ (like the ISDs) or obligatory, are morphological processes (either morpholexical or morphophonemic), not syntactic operations, and we speculate that this conclusion can be extended to cover all free deletion rules. The proposal is supported with cases from Sarcee, Swahili, Welsh, and Swedish, as well as an English case (of do deletion) in addition to ISDs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
