The similarities and differences between compounds and phrases -In terms of Distributed Morphology-

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K13473
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: English linguistics
• Research Institution: Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Science
• Principal Investigator: Okubo Tatsuhiro 茨城県立医療大学, 保健医療学部, 嘱託助手 (80781377)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 分散形態論 / 複合語 / 「記述属格＋名詞」形 / 対照焦点

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Adopting the hypothesis of Distributed Morphology that syntax is responsible for word building as well as phrase building, this study describes and explains a hybrid of word and phrasal properties. A particular focus is put on complex expressions composed of descriptive genitives and nouns (e.g. women's magazine). After their word and phrasal properties are listed, the properties are explained in terms of Distributed Morphology. As a result, the word properties can be explained only by syntactic elements and operations, which strongly supports the hypothesis of Distributed Morphology.

Free Research Field

統語論・形態論

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

国内外問わず分散形態論における複合語研究は隆盛を極めているとは言い難い状況にある。Truck driver のような統語部門の関与がうかがえる表現以外では分析の手がかりとなるものを見つけることが困難であるからである。本研究では、分散形態論の枠組みに基づき、これまで複合語の特徴とされてきたものを、句形成に用いられる要素および操作のみで説明可能であることを示した点において、分散形態論における複合語研究の現状に一石を投じるものとなったといえる。