The evolution of morphological paradigm complexity as words undergo fusion

How do inflectional systems evolve? One process of language change is univerbation, where two erstwhile words become one, as in Latin ‘cantare habeo’ > French ‘chanterai’. A far-reaching ramification of univerbation can be the reshaping of a language’s inflectional system, yet presently we possess little detailed, systematic knowledge of what is possible and what is likely during these events. For instance, to what extent are inflectional classes disrupted, and how? And to what stages in the grammaticalisation dynamic does it make sense to attribute these changes? The recipient of this studentship will help to reveal how inflectional systems transform when words collide.

The student will join the vibrant research environment at the Surrey Morphology Group, receiving training and carrying out their work among researchers at all levels of seniority, in the world’s leading centre of research into inflectional morphology. The project is a component of a British Academy Global Professorship grant to Prof. Erich Round, modelling the evolutionary dynamics of inflectional systems. The recipient will work closely with supervisors Professor Erich Round and Dr Matthew Baerman, and will have daily contact with colleagues working at the leading edge of a host of fascinating, challenging topics in morphology and language change.