√Root incorporation. Evidence from lexical suffixes in Halkomelem Salish

Abstract

Salishan lexical suffixes resist straightforward classification since their meaning makes them look like nouns, but their form makes them look like a grammatical or derivational category (i.e., they are bound forms). It is argued that neither meaning-based nor form-based criteria can be utilized to determine categorial identity. Instead, the distribution of lexical suffixes indicates that these forms do not belong to the class of nouns. It is argued that lexical suffixes are √roots, and as such they are devoid of any functional or categorial information. At the same time, it is also argued that this does not necessarily set lexical suffixes apart from noun incorporation, as there are at least some cases of apparent noun incorporation that are better analyzed as √root incorporation. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.