Morphology Typology

  • typology: how many morphemes per word in a given language
  • morphological continuum: analytic-synthetic (morphemes per word) and isolating-fusional (semantic meaning per word)
    • analytic typology: morphologically simple. each word is made up of 1-2 morphemes
    • words already broken down into simplest parts
    • synthetic typology: morphologically complex
    • synthesis of multiple morphemes to create larger words
    • synthetic: one word = 2+ morphemes
    • always have polymorphemic words
    • two types
    • polysynthetic languages: maximal use of synthesis
    • 5+ morphemes per word
    • little distinction between word and sentence level
    • can have long words but also have the ability to make smaller words