The Status of the Derivative Adjective Forms in the Lexicon: Evidence on Pseudo Default Patterns

Abstract

This paper investigates the applicability of the plural masculine suffix /-i:n/ as a default inflection marker to nouns having an irregular inflection plural form with /-i:n/ suffix marker. The data taken from Jordanian Arabic (JA) derivatives show that the notion canonical root has a substantial role in the emergence of such a default inflection. The findings also show that there is a tendency for the suffix /-i:n/ to be the marking default as an apparent form among other possible forms in JA despite the fact that they fall outside the ubiquitous regularity domain. These results provide strong evidence on the existence of multiple default systems in JA in addition to the Sound Feminine Plural marker with /a:t/. Finally, these findings conform to the symbolic accounts that rely upon computational mechanisms for the emergence of the default patterns. The findings also draw attention to the systematic suffixes that the derivative forms have /-a:n/ and thus motivate more predictions to the status of the inflected form bearing pseudo default features. Keywords: Pseudo default, Default Patterns, JA, Canonical Root, Symbolic Mechanism, Single Mechanism.