Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’
By applying a principle of submorphemic invariance to the word-initial segment gn- (phonologically /n/) in the heuristic class of English ‘gn- words’, I show that this segment functions as a ‘sublexical marker’ (), defined as a semiologically and notionally invariant submorphemic unit within the sub...
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| Language: | English |
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Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
2008-11-01
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| Series: | Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/728 |
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| author | Dennis Philps |
| author_facet | Dennis Philps |
| author_sort | Dennis Philps |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | By applying a principle of submorphemic invariance to the word-initial segment gn- (phonologically /n/) in the heuristic class of English ‘gn- words’, I show that this segment functions as a ‘sublexical marker’ (), defined as a semiologically and notionally invariant submorphemic unit within the subset(s) of words of which it is a formative. I go on to claim, based on evidence provided by phononotional GN-/GVN(-) alternation, that although must be considered as structurally indivisible in Modern English, in may originally have functioned as a ‘core invariant’ and as a variable in the pre-history of English, specifically in Proto-Indo-European. Analysing gn- in most ‘gn- words’ of Anglo-Saxon origin and some of Greek origin as the surface trace of an underlying notional domain linked to jaw-related phenomena (sound articulation, mastication, manducation, etc.) suggests that there exists an extralinguistically motivated, causal relation between and this domain involving the concept of ‘submorphemic iconicity’. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b6e0a7e522440aebff16830d7d00c1e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1951-6215 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2008-11-01 |
| publisher | Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b6e0a7e522440aebff16830d7d00c1e2025-08-20T01:52:29ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152008-11-01210.4000/lexis.728Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’Dennis PhilpsBy applying a principle of submorphemic invariance to the word-initial segment gn- (phonologically /n/) in the heuristic class of English ‘gn- words’, I show that this segment functions as a ‘sublexical marker’ (), defined as a semiologically and notionally invariant submorphemic unit within the subset(s) of words of which it is a formative. I go on to claim, based on evidence provided by phononotional GN-/GVN(-) alternation, that although must be considered as structurally indivisible in Modern English, in may originally have functioned as a ‘core invariant’ and as a variable in the pre-history of English, specifically in Proto-Indo-European. Analysing gn- in most ‘gn- words’ of Anglo-Saxon origin and some of Greek origin as the surface trace of an underlying notional domain linked to jaw-related phenomena (sound articulation, mastication, manducation, etc.) suggests that there exists an extralinguistically motivated, causal relation between and this domain involving the concept of ‘submorphemic iconicity’.https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/728submorphemic iconicitysublexical markergn- wordsinvariancenotional domain |
| spellingShingle | Dennis Philps Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’ Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology submorphemic iconicity sublexical marker gn- words invariance notional domain |
| title | Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’ |
| title_full | Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’ |
| title_fullStr | Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’ |
| title_full_unstemmed | Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’ |
| title_short | Submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon: a diachronic approach to English ‘gn- words’ |
| title_sort | submorphemic iconicity in the lexicon a diachronic approach to english gn words |
| topic | submorphemic iconicity sublexical marker gn- words invariance notional domain |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/728 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dennisphilps submorphemiciconicityinthelexiconadiachronicapproachtoenglishgnwords |