In linguistics, blocking is the morphological phenomenon in which a possible form for a word cannot surface because it is "blocked" by another form whose features are the most appropriate to the surface form's environment.[1] More basically, it may also be construed as the "non-occurrence of one form due to the simple existence of another."[2]
Word formation employs processes such as the plural marker in English s or es (e.g. dog and dogs or wish and wishes). This plural marker is not, however, acceptable on the word child (as in *childs), because it is "blocked" by the presence of the competing form children, which in this case inherits features from an older morphological process.
Blocking may also prevent the formation of words with existing synonyms, particularly if the blocked form is morphologically complex and the existing synonym is morphologically simple, e.g. *stealer which is blocked by the existing simple form thief.[3]
One possible approach to blocking effects is that of distributed morphology, which asserts that semantic and syntactic features create slots or cells in which items can appear. Blocking happens when one cell is engaged by one form as opposed to another. Blocking has been explained along two primary dimensions: the size of the blocking object, and the existence of ungrammatical forms.[4]
HistoryEdit
Blocking was first discovered in the 5th or 4th century B.C. by the Indian grammarian by the name of Pāṇini. Pāṇini stated that the more restricted rule of two competing rules would have precedence. Later around the 1960s this insight was brought back with a theory called the "Elsewhere Principle,". This used in several grammatical theories today. Alternative theories were created by Hermann Paul a German linguist who wrangled with the idea on based off the mental lexicon. This accounts for the crucial role of frequency, which is also essential in the most promising theory, statistical pre-emption, of how blocking can be learned. [5]
ReferencesEdit
^Richards, Jack C.; et al., eds. (2005). Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. p. 71. ISBN978-7-5600-4882-6.
^Aronoff, Mark (1976). Word Formation in Generative Grammar. Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press. ISBN978-0-262-51017-2.
^Ingo, Plag (1999). Morphological productivity : structural constraints in English derivation. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN978-3110158335. OCLC 40311603.
^Embick, David; Marantz, Alec (Winter 2008). "Architecture and Blocking" (PDF). Linguistic Inquiry. 39 (1): 1–53. CiteSeerX10.1.1.717.8216. doi:10.1162/ling.2008.39.1.1. ISSN 1530-9150. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
^Rainer, Franz (2016-06-09), "Blocking", Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics, doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.001.0001, ISBN978-0-19-938465-5, retrieved 2023-09-28
blocking, linguistics, linguistics, blocking, morphological, phenomenon, which, possible, form, word, cannot, surface, because, blocked, another, form, whose, features, most, appropriate, surface, form, environment, more, basically, also, construed, occurrence. In linguistics blocking is the morphological phenomenon in which a possible form for a word cannot surface because it is blocked by another form whose features are the most appropriate to the surface form s environment 1 More basically it may also be construed as the non occurrence of one form due to the simple existence of another 2 Word formation employs processes such as the plural marker in English s or es e g dog and dogs or wish and wishes This plural marker is not however acceptable on the word child as in childs because it is blocked by the presence of the competing form children which in this case inherits features from an older morphological process Blocking may also prevent the formation of words with existing synonyms particularly if the blocked form is morphologically complex and the existing synonym is morphologically simple e g stealer which is blocked by the existing simple form thief 3 One possible approach to blocking effects is that of distributed morphology which asserts that semantic and syntactic features create slots or cells in which items can appear Blocking happens when one cell is engaged by one form as opposed to another Blocking has been explained along two primary dimensions the size of the blocking object and the existence of ungrammatical forms 4 History EditBlocking was first discovered in the 5th or 4th century B C by the Indian grammarian by the name of Paṇini Paṇini stated that the more restricted rule of two competing rules would have precedence Later around the 1960s this insight was brought back with a theory called the Elsewhere Principle This used in several grammatical theories today Alternative theories were created by Hermann Paul a German linguist who wrangled with the idea on based off the mental lexicon This accounts for the crucial role of frequency which is also essential in the most promising theory statistical pre emption of how blocking can be learned 5 References Edit Richards Jack C et al eds 2005 Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics Beijing Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press p 71 ISBN 978 7 5600 4882 6 Aronoff Mark 1976 Word Formation in Generative Grammar Cambridge MA MIT Press ISBN 978 0 262 51017 2 Ingo Plag 1999 Morphological productivity structural constraints in English derivation Berlin Mouton de Gruyter ISBN 978 3110158335 OCLC 40311603 Embick David Marantz Alec Winter 2008 Architecture and Blocking PDF Linguistic Inquiry 39 1 1 53 CiteSeerX 10 1 1 717 8216 doi 10 1162 ling 2008 39 1 1 ISSN 1530 9150 Retrieved September 18 2011 Rainer Franz 2016 06 09 Blocking Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780199384655 001 0001 ISBN 978 0 19 938465 5 retrieved 2023 09 28 nbsp This linguistic morphology article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blocking linguistics amp oldid 1178107164, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
