Work

System size and system complexity: A case study in Pamean nouns and verbs

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Inflectional systems vary along multiple dimensions (number of members, size of paradigms, word class, integrative complexity, accidents of history, etc.). This makes it difficult to find significant correlations and causality relations between different properties, as attested systems usually differ in multiple ways at the same time, thus obscuring possible relations between individual variables. Here we analyze the relation between a system’s size by number of members and its morphological complexity. We do so by exploring in detail, via quantitative methods, the cognate inflectional systems of Central Pame and Chichimec (Otomanguean, Mexico), whose inflecting nominal classes differ precisely mostly with regard to their size (i.e. number of members).

Source: Journal of Linguistics

DOI: 10.1017/s0022226725000052

Authors: Borja Herce, Matthew Baerman, Jeff Parker

Institutions: University of Zurich, University of Surrey, Brigham Young University

Language: English

Topic: Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550

Funder: Leverhulme Trust